Smith Stream Hut, Ruahine Forest Park, 1-2 February 2025
Banner photo: The team selfie at Smith Stream Hut
Craig, Anne, Jenny and I set off for North Block Road, and ended up following the van full of the day trampers. It was nice to catch up with them and especially see the newbies, Barbara, Connie and Ishtar ready to go on the Waipawa Forks circuit.
We four crossed the bridge, the weather was cloudy, very humid and the wet grass on the climb up alongside the deer fence made for a warm start to our tramp. No sign of rain. There were three very large and very dead possums on the track (yuck).
Di and Craig, at Smith Stream Hut
After 45 minutes, we came to the sign saying we were entering the Ruahine Forest Park. The markers were difficult to find in the boggy area and further up the hill in an open area. I had a small amount of coloured tape that we tied to a few key places. We thought it would be good to try to find out who did the trapline there and maybe get them to put some yellow plastic tops on the very rusty waratahs and maybe a few more orange triangles. Or we might come again and do it ourselves.
We crossed the two streams, the second one being the steep-sided one with the rope. It would help if the rope was a bit longer! The first is a tributary, and the second is Middle Stream.
We enjoyed the lovely bush as you approach the sign to the hut at the top of the hill before descending to the river. It was midday and lunch time. It had taken three hours to this point.
Then it was down the steep hill, which wasn’t nearly as long as I remembered, but slippery with wet roots.
Smith Stream drink time
When we got to the river, we immediately saw lots of dead trees and the rocks were slippery. It was obviously going to take us quite a while to walk the river section. The whole valley had been scoured out. Signs were on the ground and on fallen trees in the river. However, we soldiered on – or should I say sploshed and clambered on.
We missed the turning off for the hut, the original track had gone and, in its place, a massive slip. Uncertain what to do, we decided to go on through the river, around the bend then it is easy access to the hut. Jenny and I had done this once before and I think we must have short memories because it was very tricky. It was technically challenging but we supported each other, clambering on steep rocky banks, through fast-flowing ravines and we were thankful we didn’t have any new people with us.
It took us nearly an hour to go from the slip around the corner to the hut. We were very grateful to get there. Time was about 2.30pm. We settled ourselves in, feeling very pleased with ourselves, had a few cups of tea and relaxed.
Who knew sleeping bag liners could be a fashion statement?
The hut has four bunks, one each and the bases of the bunks is hessian! But the new mattresses on top were great.
Looking at the hut book, we saw DoC had cut a new track, but didn’t say where it was. We went and did a reccy and decided we could bush-bash down the hill alongside the slip. Then Craig checked out the other side of the slip, the side further from the hut and hey presto, there was the new track. Were we happy!
Rain had been forecast in the afternoon and evening but we just had two or three very loud claps of thunder and a little drizzle. We didn’t want the river any higher, so we were happy and would have dry clothes all day.
We spent a relaxed evening, knowing we had a better route back. There was much hilarity with sleeping bag liners, Jenny and Craig getting dressed up!
On Sunday, we set off at 7.40am and it only took us 20 minutes to get back to the river. The new track was slippery and had obviously not had much use, but it was so much better than the alternative. When we reached the river, we saw the large orange sign but no clear marker to see the track up. So, my last bit of coloured ribbon was used. When coming down the river the previous day, we were concentrating so much on not slipping and where to cross the river next that we missed it.
I also hadn’t realised that the large orange sign means more than the small ones, ie a change of route or, where two streams meet, which one to take, so it’s important to take notice of these.
We were out of the river at 8.50am and at the top of the hill by 9.05, so under 1½ hours compared with more than two hours the previous day. The rest of the tramp was pleasant, with a little rain, morning tea by Middle Stream, and we were back at the car just after midday for lunch before driving back.
Trampers: Craig and Anne Mountfort, Jenny Burns and reporter Di Reid
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