The A Frame and Stanfield Hut loop, Ruahine FP, Saturday 26 April 2025
Banner Photo: Heading on up to the Te Ao Tūpare Hut (The A Frame Hut)
Nine trampers headed to just outside Dannevirke to tackle the A Frame – Stanfield Hut loop, and we could not have asked for better weather. Arriving at a packed car park at 8.30, we headed off a short time later. It was an uneventful walk up to the almost windless A Frame Hut, enjoying spectacular vistas. The Maori name translates as ‘realm of the leatherwood’ (very fitting for the ridges of the southern Ruahine Range). After a few photo opportunities and morning tea, we traversed the tops along a gravel road for a few kilometres.
Traverse (A Frame) Hut (Te Ao Tūpare)
Then we hit the flax and mud, which slowed us up a little, and after half an hour on the overgrown track we stopped for lunch.
Julian and Darran could be seen in the distance; they were travelling a little faster than the rest of us, disappearing into the bush just before the steep descent to Stanfield Hut. Our drop down was challenging on the slippery track.
Keith with Alison checks his topomap on the phone
We met three hunters who had come in for the night; they said we had just missed Julian and Darran who had gone towards the car park via the Holmes Ridge track.
At 3pm, we walked out via the river; it’s easy going after Cyclone Gabrielle and a great way to clean the mud off boots before reaching the cars.
Everyone completed the loop. Thanks to Alison and Donna for driving us to and from Napier.
Trampers: Donna Weston, Selina Chilton, Barbara Edmead, Darran Gillies, Alison Greer, Keith Gore, Julian Phillips, Amelia Moorhead and reporter Campbell Living
Leave a Reply