Sunrise Hut – Top Maropea Hut, Ruahine FP, Wednesday 20 March 2024
Banner Photo: The track up to Armstrong Saddle
With the scheduled trip to Sparrowhawk off the agenda, the intention was to go up to Sunrise Hut and on to Top Maropea Hut. So six of us met for the 7.30am start from Park Island, travelling in two cars. The drive was uneventful apart from having to wait for a mob of sheep crossing the temporary bridge (just before the last road section). Construction workers were also working on the repairs (from 2023 cyclone damage) to the main bridge at the same time, so it was all action stations for that hour of the morning.
We had our normal push up the hill to Sunrise with the group split, some going faster than others. The last arrived at the hut within 2 hours 20 minutes which was good, considering one of our number was totally new to tramping. Just as we arrived, the first group was moving on to cross the saddle as they reasoned it was warmer outside the hut than inside (it had been rather a cold night).
The view looking back to Sunrise Hut from Armstrong Saddle (File picture)
Donna and I had a quick bite to eat at the hut, then travelled across the saddle as well. About half-way there, we came across the first group returning. They had got to the saddle, where there was a cold, biting wind and cloud was moving in and out over the tops. They’d decided that it wasn’t enjoyable tramping and what had been done so far was plenty enough for them. At that point there was a bit of shelter from the wind, so they stopped to have their lunch while Donna and I continued onward so she could get to Armstrong Saddle.
One very good thing I noted as we got closer to the saddle was that the track had been recut through the bush. This was in an area which had been rather close to the edge in the past and looking down from above, it appears that it may have slipped away completely and hence the change of route. It now feels much safer to pass through that area. The views from the saddle make the whole trip to Sunrise worthwhile. It would be good to get to Top Maropea again – but that will have to wait for another day. After pulling on another layer of clothing, we took some quick photos, then went back to join up with the others on the return trip.
Overall it was a good day out to stretch the legs and a good introduction for Donna to the experience of getting up into the tops to see the rugged terrain up there. Thanks, too, to the drivers, Sue and Alison.
Trampers: Jenny Burns, Michele Ericksen, Sue Gribble, Donna Weston, Alison Greer and reporter Juliet Gillick
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