Middle Hill, Camp Spur, Kaweka FP, Saturday 16 March 2024
Banner Photo: Elly and Gerard resetting a trap on the Middle Hill to Kaweka Flats track
Today’s tramp was intended to be a loop from the Middle Hill to the Makino car park via the Three Gorges. However, most of those who registered opted for Middle Hill Hut with an add-on towards and up Camp Spur, so in the end that’s what we all did.
The mossy greeen, open beech track
It was cold when we five left Middle Hill car park at 8.30am, 6 degrees with a southerly blowing. However, the steady climb soon made us take off our tops. On the way up, we had great views towards the Mohaka valley and Whetu, which was still covered in clouds.
We met two hunters walking out – they had gone in at 6am that morning, but had no luck. Close to 10.30am, we arrived at Middle Hill Hut; time for morning tea. The tops came back on because it was very cold and the wind was strong.
Group photo at the Camp Spur, Kaweka Flats junction
Elly and Gerard decided from here to walk to the junction of Camp Spur and the track to Kaweka Flats and then return. The forest and the mosses in this part of the track were beautiful. Jenny, and the two Sues came the same way and, after a group photo at the junction, they carried on up Camp Spur.
Upon their return, Elly and Gerard had lunch at the hut, left a note for the others in the hut book as we had agreed and ambled back to the car park. By this time, the wind had changed direction and it was a lot more pleasant.
A few statistics: Distance from car park to Middle Hull Hut: 5.9 km, from Hut to junction 1.5 km. Time from car park to hut 1h 50m; from hut to junction 35m. Total ascent from the car park to the junction is 632m; total descent 122m.
Sue Martin continues the story:
Once we said goodbye to Elly and Gerard, Jenny, Sue G and I continued tramping upwards towards Whetu. The bush is beautiful with stunning mossy and fern ground cover either side of the track. The further we went, the steeper the climb. We had already agreed that we wouldn’t go to the bush line, so we decided on an hour’s walk then turn around.
Sue G walked ahead of us and turned after an hour; she met us just as we were beginning to feel our stomachs rumbling, so we were glad to see her.
The wasp nest in the Middle Hill car park toilet
After looking at our GPS, we found that we were only halfway to the bush line. Satisfied with our efforts, we returned to the hut and had lunch. Coats on as it began to rain but it wasn’t long before we put them back in our bags.
A great day in good company and beautiful bush. Oh, and look out for the wasps’ nest in the car park toilet!
Trampers: Jenny Burns, Sue Gribble, Gerard van de Ven, and reporters Elly Govers and Sue Martin
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