Kuripapango to Cameron Hut, Kaweka FP, 27 February 2019
I checked the Ngaruroro River levels for Kuripapango. They were sitting at 600, which meant the river was very passable. I ‘d done this tramp a few weeks back and the river level was much higher.
This river is my favourite in the Kawekas. It has large, deep blue pools that are still and inviting. We met a couple of Canadians camping and fishing.
Ted, Murray, Rosemary and Tony hit the high slopes, tramping up to the top of Mt Kuripapango. The rest of us headed up towards Cameron Hut. In the last few weeks, someone has been cutting back encroaching undergrowth along the tracks, which run beside the river in some places. These tracks can save heaps of time and are worth scouting about for. There are no DOC markers, but people have put up coloured tape to indicate a track beginning. We found quite a few.
The river crossings were generally two types: still and waist-deep on sandy bottoms, or more swift and shallow on slippery rock bottoms. Cherie fell first. Over the course of the day, I think we all had a plunge. It wasn’t too cold.
Keith and I cleaned up a rubbishy campsite halfway up the river and managed to carry most of it out. He carried a rather heavy looking gas cooker.
The Cameron Hut people were back by 4.30pm, the mountain people a little earlier. All in all, a beautiful day in the bush.
Trampers: Ted Angove, Murray White, Keith James, Tony Phyngers, Rosemary Jeffries, Cherie le Lievre, Denis Bavidge and John Holschier and reporter Hilary Heath-Caldwell
The “someone” who had been track cutting and marking was our very own Barry and Robyn. Well done guys.