tramping new zealand

Gouland Downs Hut? Was that even a day walk?

Two hours according to DOC. There’s a reason, however.

In erecting the tent the previous night, I discovered that one aluminium tent pole tube was missing the short link between two of the sections. I tried to put the tent up, and abruptly, a 150 mm slash appeared in the main tent fabric, the top waterproofing layer, with the pole as the culprit.

Man, I’d had trouble before with that tent when one of the pole sections snapped with the abrupt force of a full-on gust. That time I effected a trail-style repair and used the tent another 30 times that summer because I was out and about. I only got it fixed when I had my Achilles tendon hiatus.

Now, a repeat catastrophe, right when I would be needing to use my tent for the next two weeks. On the other hand, I had a roll of tent repair tape that was super sticky, and I used that to tape up both sides of the rent in the fabric.

After a bit of thought, I elected to stay in the vacant Gouland Downs Hut and effect some repairs to get me to Karamea, while D and Z went on to Saxon Hut, where they were booked, so they could cut down on the following day’s distance, when heavy rain was anticipated.

Earlier, we had decided, on my suggestion, to climb Mt Perry, not far from Perry Saddle Hut. The day started with a clear sky, but quickly the very top was shrouded in cloud, and we only managed to see part of the Gouland Downs, a little of the Tasman Sea, and we were staring down at the hut we had left not so much distance below.

It was sure windy with the clouds whistling past our ears. The other two were keen on the climb and thought the effort worth it, but as visibility rapidly curtailed, we turned around 100 m from the top.

That meant we had lunch at Quintinia Creek, ie, not far from our starting point, but still with plenty of daylight.

Just as we approached Gouland Downs Hut, it started to drizzle, and after a while, it really set in.

Suddenly, the obvious occurred with me staying and the other two continuing.

After patching the tear, I popped into bed, well, my slightly damp sleeping bag fairly early on.

I’d have an extra hour and a half hiking to get to Saxon Hut, but then it was only three hours to Mackay Hut.

The DOC hut warden at Perry Saddle had recommended that I sleep in Saxon Hut due to the expected full-on deluge, so I decided to do that, but in a hut where it wouldn’t affect anyone else.