hiking

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Hill repeats with weights – Aorangi Undulator marshalling duties on the mountain ridge above Washpool Hut

Starting fresh, clean and without any aches or pains.
Putangirua Pinnacles campsite.
The route follows the riverbed for the first half kilometre or so.
Easy going on a well formed trail in the first couple kilometres.
Even steps to make it more accessible to do the Pinnacles scenic loop walk.
The PInnacles.
A split in the road to complete the Pinnacles walk, go to Te Toki accommodation or further into the mountain to Washpool Hut.
An easy uphill section on a 4WD road.
Very steep, but easy going.
Through the manuka trees onto a grassy patch.
Some NZ wildlife.
If this is not a magic mushroom, I don’t know what is!
Further and further up the mountain.
Follow the orange triangles – up and up.
If I had to guess, I would say that the Libertia (NZ iris) grows at about 300 metres above sea level. At least in this area, we saw them on both sides of the mountain at about this altitude.
In a distance: the sea to the left and Lake Ferry to the right. We followed the ridge in the foreground.
Another weird looking fungi.
Arriving at the hut that was “born” the same year as Gerry!
Our marshalling spot, geared with gels, tent, stove and camera.
Magical misty mountain.
Variety of ferns in the area.
The hut is way down below in this valley.
The trunk and roots of a Matai tree.
At first I thought a hunter had slaughtered his deer on the track!
Between the beech trees.
Fetching water from the stream about 60 metres from the hut.
A steep little climb between the stream and the hut.
We had a cozy evening by fire and candle light.
A very small little hut that only sleeps six.
The hut is nestled in a tiny clearing in the forest.
There’s quite a bit of stinging nettle in this area.
Evidence that this hut is frequented mostly by hunters.
The hill is often at this gradient, necessitating an all-fours approach.
Back among the native NZ iris.
The flowers of a rewarewa (NZ honeysuckle)
Lunch in a grassy clearing.
Gorse Alley.
Back on the 4WD track and at the turn-off to the PInnacles viewpoint.
The Pinnacles.
Pinnacles up closer.
Fallen trees (manuka) make for a 15kg squat and deadlift, all in one!
On the edge of an abyss.
Back in the river bed.
A few minor stream crossings.
Pinnacles up close.
Last one.
Don’t ask.

Another year of not doing this event, but this time we opted to marshal. I’ve always been  partial to multi-day runs, which is maybe why I also love tramping so much. So while we were in no state to participate, we thought it would be nice to experience a wee bit of the event at some level. Event organiser Chris Martin (aka Martini) agreed to have us, and placed us at the peak of the fourth “undulation”about 2-3km above Washpool Hut in the Aorangi Ranges. The Aorangi Undulator comprises of a 100km event (the A100), run over the three days, and a one day event of about 32km, which is also the middle day of the A100 – the day we marshalled. Continue reading →

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A tail in three parts – Pouakai Crossing

Date: 9 June 2017
Distance: Depending on the source, 18.4km or 19km

Walking up the Razorback Ridge.
Boomerang Slip.
Gerry at Dieffenbach cliffs.
Time for a break and warm coffee.
Gerry crossing a slip.
The red water of the Kokowai Stream.
Signs at either side of Boomerang Slip, cautioning hikers to cross the slip one at a time.
Gerry making his way across the Boomerang Slip.
Ahukawakawa Swamp/Wetlands in the valley below.
Holly Hut.

Since Lonely Planet named Taranaki “the second best region in the world to visit”, while highlighting the Pouakai Crossing as “one of two unmissable attractions”, I’ve been keen to see what all the fuss was about.

Mt Taranaki in Egmont National Park has always been on the to-do list. We’ve only done short walks in the area, and “knocking off the bastard” remains on the to-do list. Continue reading →

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Round the Mountain: anti-clockwise

Previous: 2013

24 December 2016 – Christmas Eve

Clean and fresh in the carpark at Whakapapa Village.
Gerry crossing the Golden rapids – yellow coloured due to the high iron content in the stream.
Some good sturdy bridges to cross some streams dry-footed.
Just a nice walk in the forest.
The undulations already started in the first couple of hours.
Due to the rain of the previous night, the track was quite wet.
Luckily we didn’t fall down the chute!
The eroded path resulted in some muddy patches.
In stark contrast, some other areas of the track were very well developed.
An early taste of the tough terrain to come.
A bridge built in memory of another life lost in the deceivingly dangerous mountain streams.
Fresh dumping of snow on the mountain.
Icy cold streams, too deep to cross with dry footed.
Contemplating the prospect of wet feet for the rest of the day.
Just beautiful views of the mountain whenever you look up.
A final small stream before reaching the hut.
Late lunch on the porch of Whakapapaiti Hut, before continuing on to make up a bit of distance before settling in for the night.
More stream crossings – some rock-hopping, others knee deep.
Clearly not impressed by having to pour water from my waterproof boots!
A final cold, wet stream crossing before calling it a day.
With camp all set up, we were having coffee and cooking dinner with the sun starting to set.
Lying in the tent with our festive Christmas lights, we couldn’t have hoped for a better scene.
The beautiful Mt Ruapehu glowing pink in the evening light.

What was meant to be an early night, early start, drive to Whakapapa Village and start walking early, turned into a very late night (1am), getting up four hours later, load everything in the car, drive the two and half hours, sign in, get sorted and only start walking at 11:11am. (Looking back at our previous trip, it would seem that old habits die hard.) Continue reading →

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Shania Twain and the Seven Witches of Wanaka

Date: 19-20 November 2016
Distance: 12km

A lovely, sunny day to start off with.
A South Island Oystercatcher.
Following the Fern Burn river up the shadowy valley.
The fast-flowing stream is crossed via a sturdy footbridge.
Some muddy and wet patches along the way.
Very steep slopes – not for the faint-hearted.
As the valley narrows, the amount of cascades and waterfalls increase.
A sharp little turn with a sheer drop if you’re not careful, especially on the downhill.
Some very steep sections had steps to help you along.
Finally above the tree line.
The track winds its way along the ridges, offering splendid views if you have the guts to raise your eyes from the footpath.
Tiny path traversing the saddle of a hill.
The hut came into sight, but first you have to get down to the river and cross a side stream, before heading up again to reach the hut.
A beautiful tranquil spot.
Fern Burn Hut, built in 2008.
Two bunk beds – sleeps six people at the top and six at the bottom.
This is where it all happened for 18 adults and a baby.
Getting ready the next morning.
Some final photos of the hut before heading back towards Wanaka.
Fern Burn hut, set amidst the gorgeous Central Otago countryside.
Too close for comfort.
A huge slip just below the path did not fill me with confidence.
Returning along the saddle.
Finally back amongst the trees in The Stack Conservation Area.
Hesitantly making our way down the valley.
Beautiful tree-lined stream.
Another gorgeous day out in nature.
Almost back at the car, and already thinking about our next adventure.
Californian poppies by the toilet at the car park. If you don’t have lavender, poppies will have to do! 🙂

After the lovely night (albeit bitterly cold) at Meg Hut, we decided to head out for another two days on the trails. But first a good scrub-down was in order, so we spent the night at Glendhu Holiday Park to get ourselves sorted for the next trip. A quick top-up of supplies and a fresh set of clothes and we were all set to leave early in the morning. Continue reading →

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Roaring Meg

Date: 17-18 November 2016
Distance: 14km

Starting off on a working farm crossing a paddock …
… and some streams …
… before reaching the 4WD track up the mountain.
An Australasian harrier hanging around for some prey.
The light dusting of snow on the ridges.
Storm clouds coming in and bitterly cold.
Finally we reached the basic hut for a warm cup of tea.
Historic Meg Hut.
Although Meg Hut is quite basic, the shelter it provided from the elements felt like the height of luxury.
Climbing up a hill behind the hut rewarded us with beautiful views over the area.
The result of one of the sleet storms.
Still light outside, but time to get some heat into the hut.
Gerry tugging at the trees with a waratah.
Nothing like a fire to warm body and soul on a cold night.
Lovely sunny spot for a morning coffee.
Breakfast.
Roaring Meg River.
Still some snow on the surrounding mountains.
Could this be Quartz Knoll peak in Criffel Range?
Nothing like a nice piece of salty biltong to keep one going.
Gigantic mushrooms popped up (overnight?) in the paddock.
Can’t remember seeing any of these massive mushrooms the previous day.

On Monday morning, 14 November 2016 at 3:30am we found ourselves on the highest point reachable by car from where we stayed, on the Dunedin Peninsula. Two hours earlier the M7.8 Kaikoura earthquake destroyed, amongst other, the scenic SH1 coastal road south of Kaikoura. A tsunami threat had been issued for the whole NZ eastern coast, and everybody near the coast were urged to seek higher ground. We were about 50 metres from the sea, and at my sister’s persistence (after frantic calls to wake us up!) we thought it is probably for the best – rather safe than sorry, as they say. Strangely enough we didn’t feel the quake in Dunedin at all. Neither did any of the other conference attendees we spoke to the next day.

Continue reading →