tramping new zealand

The previous night started windy and dry, and sometime in the early morning it reversed: calm and rainy.

I couldn’t work out what the hunters were doing. The old ones went for a quick walk, then went back to bed. The young ones stayed out until 4 30 am, then went to bed after shooting a yearling deer and two small pigs. Apparently, they came back down the hill in their Hilux but continued down and found their animals.

I missed all this, but did have the sense to bring my pack under the tent vestibule when it started to rain.

At 6 00 am, there was thick fog, and the old hunters had the sense to stay in their bunk room until after 9 am.

In the meantime, I had my usual porridge and coffee breakfast, but my tent was wet, so I left it up to dry. We chatted for a long while, and they kept offering bacon and eggs, so I eventually relented. It was going to be a long, austere week, and I might as well get one good feed.

Then the young guys got up, packed and departed, and I left sometime after 12 pm.

The late start was due to a DOC sign stating it was just two hours to my destination, basically a steep 500 m descent. I took my time, doing some track pruning and some ribbon around non-obvious windfall.

The base hut was vacant, although it is possible to drive into it. Unlike Mt Bee, it doesn’t have Internet reception. The hut is clearly little used. It’s in reasonable repair, even if it still has the open fireplace and the ventilation that offers. The original galvanised steel benchtop has been replaced with stainless steel.

I went down to the river crossing and noted where the track to Acton Hut started on the other side.

In retrospect, I probably should’ve left earlier and continued on to Acton Hut, as that’s another half-day, but my body appreciated the lack of effort.

I was still aiming to reach Island Hut in two nights’ time and would probably then go to Cromel Branch Hut.

See, I did have a plan after all.