Awatere Hut, Black Stag Biv (dilapidated) and Happy Daze Hut, Ruahine FP, Saturday 13 April 2024
Banner Photo: The view down to the Makaretu North Branch from the track above Moorcock Saddle
It was a lovely sunny, autumn day on Saturday when Liz, Uta, Paul, Colin and myself met at Colin’s house. We set off and arrived at Kashmir Road end at 9am. The road was pretty rutted on the last climb to the car park but other than that it was fine.
There were lots of cars in the car park and it turned out there were about 25 school students from Palmerston North and Central Hawke’s Bay. Half were going to Longview Hut and the other half were going to Daphne Hut for the night for their bronze Duke of Ed. Thankfully, we were going the other way!
The recently refurbished Awatere Hut
A fairly steep club for half an hour gave us some fabulous views of the Bay and we continued down the other side of the hill to Awatere Hut, arriving soon after 10am. The river was very low and easy to cross. The hut was in good order and we heard a lot of rustling when we went in. A mouse had its foot caught in a trap and was desperately trying to get out. Knowing we don’t want pests, I asked Colin if he could quickly stamp on it when I released the mouse from the trap at a height. Yup, he got it, swivelled his foot around a bit, I heard a scrunch. “OK Colin, you can lift your foot up now” and out ran the wee mouse straight back into the hut! It wasn’t his day to depart this earth.
After morning tea, we headed off down the North Branch Makaretu River, the water level being low which was easy to cross. Initially the going was easy with smaller shingly stones but as we went on the rocks were bigger and the stones had brown algae on them. We found Black Stag Biv which is very dilapidated. Not even shelter in a storm accommodation. Then we continued to the junction with the Makaretu River and the North Branch. It took us about 90 minutes to get to the junction, with many, many river crossings.
Paul inspecting Black Stag Biv
Then we had to decide whether to carry on to Makaretu Hut (about 45 minutes) or go to Happy Daze hut, 15 minutes. As it was nearly midday, we scrambled up the bank and went to Happy Daze for lunch. What a wonderful old hut, lots of camping space, originally built in 1958 and I doubt anything has been done since except a smart coat of new paint. Uta was amazed, being used to the European huts, where you could get a hot meal. Paul was showing us his solid fuel block and stove to warm his drink, only to knock it and spill it. Poor Paul!
As we were packing up, it began to rain so we’d been very fortunate to get this far with nice weather.
The journey back was fairly uneventful. It spotted with rain now and again and we soon arrived back at Awatere Hut. A hunter asked me to contact his wife as he had changed his plans because of the Duke of Ed students and Paul helped him light a fire.
A new picnic table at Awatere Hut
As we climbed the hill back towards the car park, the clay was slippery and not helped by the rain, but no one came a cropper. The view was great from the top again – Longview Hut was easy to see and the car below.
The rain started again as we got to the car so we changed quickly and were on our way by about 4.30pm, arriving back at Colin’s house just before 6pm. Paul’s legs had obviously seized up during the drive back judging by the way he was walking to open Colin’s gate!
A good day all round. Liz has now done three tramps with the club, all in rivers! The next time, she needs to choose one that will keep her boots dry! A diploma in river crossings may be due!
Uta, on her first tramp with us, was very capable and good company and she seemed keen to do another with us. Fingers crossed!
Trampers: Liz Perry, Paul Hendy, Uta Benecke, Colin Jones and reporter Di Reid
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