tramping new zealand

Drizzle in the night. Also buzzing mosquitoes and mice.

There is no way mice can get into the hut, but they were certainly scrummaging in the walls.

I’ve seldom seen mozzies in South Island huts, but having left the door open for 10 minutes while dealing with the water tank, they congregated with me and I supplied three with sustenance.

Sandflies are common in places, although I’d seen few this summer. No mozzies until here.

It was still drizzling when I left for MacLennan Biv as planned, and after walking through long, wet grass, my feet were immediately soaked. It was a lovely walk in the rain in the lower valley with massive silver beach trees.

The dampness brought out the green hues. Vivid. Lovely mature forest.

Then the track bifurcated. One track went steeply up the hill and had a sign stating “Shortcut”. That track had orange markers, so I started climbing.

The track was clear, so I kept climbing. The track on the map showed a climb of 40 m or so, but it wasn’t long before I was starting to get above that. Then I climbed 100 m in elevation, and it looked like I could be going a lot further.

A white set of markers branched off, and I guessed they would go back to the other track, but above the 40 m climb that had been circumvented. The white markers continued, but I was navigating a cross-country route through nipple-deep crown fern with plenty of fallen trees thrown in.

It went on a bit.

As it turned out, it went on for an hour before I finally met up with the track I was supposed to be on once again. No injuries, just the loss of an hour of blundering about.

The track to the hut wasn’t much maintained, but it was almost clear on the ground and had enough orange markers for the foot traffic to keep it open.

The rest of the hike was relatively uneventful.

Lunch was at MacLennan Biv. I was pleased not to be carrying my pack, which meant I didn’t have to stay. Overall, it was too gloomy, although the sun had come out and the drizzle stopped shortly thereafter.

The bivvy is in a clearing, but the valley is damp and wouldn’t get much winter sun. I was okay basking in some summer sun, but it was soon time to head back.

Leaving at 1 30 pm meant I’d be staying another night in Thisbe Biv, but I didn’t mind that. Other than the water issue, it was cozy enough.

It turned out to be eight hours walking for the day, with not excessive climbing. No mohau were seen, but orange-fronted parakeets were heard in a number of places.

A much nicer afternoon weatherwise, but the morning dampness did have those colours.

That just about wrapped the Catlins up for this trip. I visited all four DOC huts in the area, and had a good sense of the flowering rata, none today, and massive silver beach trees.

Well worth a visit.