Lol. It's not the route that's devious it's the person doing it!
i think we are all a bit devious or we wouldnt be out in the weekends getting wet and cold and absolutely loving it!, think i might be heading to puniwhakau this weekend for an overnighter with my mate but not sure yet, will see what the weather forecast is going to do
I am doing an overnighter to the Kingsgate Hotel in Whangarei. Funny thing is I am dead jealous Big Paul, I know where I would rather be.
Somehow swapping out an UPS (Uninterrupted Power Supply) in a server room in Whangarei just does not match up against Kaurititahi Hut and its views and new deck.
When driving back from the Kaimais the other weekend we went through Katikati and you could see Kauritatahi up there on the hill. My companions now want to head up there to have a look so another visit there may not be too far away. I have an arrangement with a resident at the end of Thompson's Track to mind my car for me and he has said he wants to go see the plane crash so I owe him a trip up.
I am trying to pull my shattered life together again after 5 hard days in the Ureweras. We always seemed to be bashing up some wet rocky creek or climbing on steep overgrown tracks over high ridges. Neat huts and I have to say the tracks were well marked.
This weekend our Trust has scored a trip to Mokoia Island on Lake Rotorua in return for some donated Rata Trees.
Then Queens Birthday weekend I am leading a club trip back into the bloody Ureweras. This time Waihua Hut, Saddle Biv and Apiti Hut.
Thompsons track carpark-is that just about the most disappointing place in Newzealand. I once cleaned up the rubbish before walking over two days and when i came back it was as if i hadnt done a thing. Walked the waioeka some time ago and have been contemplating the walk you have just done in general terms your discription however short sounds knee trembling
well its currently snowing in stratford, taranaki, so the mountain may be covered in snow this weekend, i am sure i will still be able to get up there for a walk though!
I uploaded the GPX of the trip yesterday http://www.tramper.co.nz/?4022 and all the huts, I will do a route description in the next few days. We did the trip in 5 days but it could be spun out a bit longer as we went past a couple of huts. Unfortunately the grunt from the Makakoere to Te Rangaakapu is unavoidable, which is one of those climbs, that while you are doing, you wonder why you didn't take up lawn bowls as a hobby instead.
It's days like today the internet can be cruel. I have been following the North Island National Park web cams all day.
some screen shots from tonight ...
http://www.quaystuff.co.nz/whathut/Rua.jpg
http://www.quaystuff.co.nz/whathut/nga.jpg
Taking advantage of the long weekend and we are going into Waihua Hut from Waiohau. I checked with DOC and apparently it is OK to drive up the 4WD road into the forest there. It will be an easy day Saturday to the hut. On Sunday heading up the Waihua River to Saddle Biv and then on to Apiti Hut. No track up the Saddle Biv but I have spoken to two people who have done it and it seems OK. Finally on Monday out to the Whakatane River. We have 5 people going (which will fill both huts) and it had been a bit of a mission organising transport.
If anyone here would like to join us, let me know. You will need to have a tent as we have filled out the huts already.
I am going into Leitche's Clearing hut Firday the 5th June, going from Auckland (6am start).
Taking in some work colleges, their first time overnight, should be interesting.
Anyone is also welcome to join us. I do not imagine there will be anyone else at the hut.
