Hard work getting to Dead Dog Hut

Dead Dog Hut, Ruahine FP, Wednesday 19 January 2022
Banner Photo: Dead Dog Hut, in a splendid location above Big Hill Stream

According to the reports on our website, the last time the club went to Dead Dog Hut was in November 2016. I came on that trip, and I remembered a relatively easy bush walk of about one hour, followed by a slightly more difficult river walk of about 1.5 hours up Big Hill Stream.

However, five years later, the bush track has deteriorated considerably with lots of tree fall, and the track in some places just a grassy slope. The first gully still has the ropes to assist with the downhill as well as the uphill, but the second gully requires a scramble up (and a slide down on the way back) because the track has been blocked by a fallen tree. And, from my own experience, not all remaining trees standing are safe to hold on to.

The track begins at Herrick’s Hut, which is about 200 metres from the parking area. From here, there is a short but steep climb before the track becomes sort-of level, with two gullies already mentioned.

Julia and Les had gone ahead and we lost sight of them very quickly. For the others, it took quite some time before everyone had crossed the first gully, but after that the group quickly split up. Seven of us made it to the stream and hut; the remaining four just went on the track as far as they wanted to go. Ted told me afterwards that standing at the top of the final drop to the river convinced him that it was time to turn around. Yes, that drop is steep and rather overgrown.

Down at the river, we had morning tea and decided to try to reach Dead Dog Hut, but after 100 metres Sue Gribble hurt her finger and turned around, accompanied by Sue Martin. The rest of us – John, Marie, Joanne, Juliet and I – carried on. The river walk seemed endless; the river was very pleasant and not difficult to walk in, but the constant watching of our feet was tiring.

At noon, we agreed to give it another half hour. If we weren’t at the hut by then, we would have lunch and turn around. When the half hour was up, the map showed that the hut was only 100 metres away – so to the hut we went. We arrived at 12.45pm (having left Herrick’s Hut at 9.15am). By that time, Julia and Les had been there an hour and were starting their return trip. We followed them half an hour later.

The return trip went smoothly. It was only disturbed by a loud screech from Marie. An eel was trying to befriend her in the stream, but she was not amused. Just before heading up the bush track again, Marie and Joanne had a soak to cool down, and up we went. Because we knew what to expect and there were only a few of us, it took only 75 minutes to get back to Herrick’s Hut from the river. But, all-inclusive, it had been a seven-hour trip!

Many thanks to Kereru Station management for allowing us access across their land.

Trampers: Gordon Tapp, John Dobbs, Sue Gribble, Marie Deroles, Ted Angove, Dorothy Sole, Juliet Gillick, Johanne Karlsson, Sue Martin, Julia Mackie, Les O’Shea, Noel Mann and reporter Elly Govers