Shortcuts to Oturere Hut

I was one of the 7 to go on Pimkey's 'bush-bash from Hell' tramp. Some of the highlights being - attacked by bush lawyer, stream crossings up to the jewel bags, and huge treefalls to clamber over. At 1 stage pmcke got stuck in a bog and had to be dug out, although there were some dark mutterings about leaving him there and heading out to the road by the quickest route! Up higher we pushed through dense manuka and scrub for ages, of course raining by now. Just when my favourite place in NZ was about to become my least favourite, we popped out onto open ground. It was such a relief to be walking in gale force winds and heavy rain. When we got to the hut and warmed up pmcke produced chocolate so all was forgiven. I guess when pmcke's legs, which looked like they had been chewed by angry dogs, have healed, and my memory of the event has faded like the 13x5cm bruise on my shin, we'll be back for another crack. But only if there's chocolate.

It's funny isn't it? After all that hell you start wondering if there might be a better way. Which, of course, there probably isn't!

I dont know the area at all but what I think is funny is a hell trip like that are the ones that subtly become part of the addiction :-) (long after the pain has gone may I add)

I recall whinging about the Waitaha to someone and Frank said it wasn't so bad so we went back about 10 days later! We did do some track clearing the second time round.