tramping new zealand

If you can drive to a hut, does it count?

It had rained heavily before dawn, continuing as I got up at 6 am. Not easy to pack up and have breakfast with the precipitation, and my tent was packed away sodden.

Despite this, I ventured up to the nearby Sam Summer Hut, a 1930 hut that has been restored sometime in the last 20 years. Heavy rain came down at the hut, and on leaving I realised I couldn’t find my glasses that I had put in a pocket due to them getting fogged up.

A search around the hut was unsuccessful, so I retraced my steps and found them lying in the middle of the track.

Great. Losing them would have been an issue.

The day cleared up by the time I mucked around, lunch at 5 Mile, a stop for delicious cherries, another to dry my tent, etc. It was sunny by 5 pm when I made it over Lindis Pass and to the Birchwood turn-off.

I knew a legal road went on for a while, but I was surprised that I could drive almost 20 km past the Te Araroa crossing.

I ran into some Swiss fishers, “Hey, I want to see your fishing licenses!” Then had to explain it was a joke.

Easy enough to drive to the hut they confirmed. Also a lack of fish.

An older couple were stationed in the four bunk hut, so I put up my big tent, the one I use for car camping, and slept most restfully.