DOC Warning Sign Jan 2009
We saw this sign in early 2008 when returning from another trip and thought we must have a crack at getting into Waikiti hut this way to see if it was as DOC indicated. However the severe storms of late winter/early spring 2008 added windthrow and snow damage to the already overgrown tracks. In Oct 2008 three of us did a day trip recce but didn't continue all the way to the hut as we would have run out of daylight for the return journey. In Jan 2009 we successfully followed the route and there was actually the remains of a marked track above the swingbridge contrary to what the sign said. The warning sign no longer applies as the track was re cut about a year ago. We were probably the only "mad buggers" to walk the route between the time of the 2008 storms & the track recutting.
Comments
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glennj By the way, even post the storm damage which occurred after the sign was erected, it took us 6hrs not the 8 - 10 hrs indicated on the sign.
Going by the hut book entries (nearly all fly in visitors & the occasional party via other routes) the sign did deter people from visiting via the up river route.
28 August 2010