Napier Tramping Club

based in Hawke's Bay, New Zealand

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Get your kicks, flicks, blisters and bruises on Route 66

May 12, 2010 by Sue Martin Leave a Comment

Sunrise, Armstrong Saddle, Te Atuaoparapara (66) Waipawa Saddle, Waipawa River, Saturday May 8. Map: BK36

Trampers: Colin McNatty, Ted Angove, Paul Exeter, Shaun (visitor), Geoff Donkin, Jude Paton, Julia Mackie, Alison Greer, Murray White, Phil (visitor), Denise Payne, Colleen Pereau, Matt Green, Ray Slavin, Murray Goss, Sue Martin

It was a perfect day to tackle this favourite climb. A large number of trampers set off up to Sunrise Hut – some at record pace, others in their own time. An hour up the track, I could feel blisters developing at the back of my heels. B*****!

Everyone enjoyed a cuppa on the hut verandah in the warm sun and I did a little repair job on those annoying and painful blisters. A small group chose to only go to Sunrise Hut, back around the swamp track and then down the river.

Heading towards '66'

Before the big group headed up Armstrong Saddle, they sensibly placed more layers on to battle the cold winds that can blow across. However, it wasn’t as cold as predicted. When we reached the ‘Top Maropea Hut’ sign and headed west, it was a long slog up to the trig. But the views along these tussocky tops were stunning and the higher we climbed, the better they were – especially with snow-capped Mt Ruapehu and Ngauruhoe in full view. With almost 360-degree views across the ranges, there were so many great ‘Kodak’ moments and hut spotting opportunities. The climb was well worth the effort.

It was too fresh to have lunch at the top of 66 at 1687m (the highest point of the tramp) so we continued climbing our way around the craggy rock face, overlooking massive slips. Then it was a slide/slip/bum-slide/run down the scree to the designated lunch spot by the small tarns.

The view looking back to the trig on '66'

It was a great sight, looking back up the cliffs, knowing that we had just done it. The hard work was over. Only one more climb from here to reach the Waipawa Saddle, then downhill tramping on rocky slopes and through large patches of leatherwood.

It wasn’t long before the saddle joined the Waipawa River. Initially, we had to manoeuvre around large boulders. Then we made dozens of river crossings and often had to enter small bush tracks when the river was not navigable. Boy, my blisters were screaming with pain whenever the feet got wet.

Having a breather while re-grouping on the Waipawa River bank

There was lots of regrouping, which is always appreciated. A few walked up the 10-minute track to Waipawa Forks Hut for a first-time look. Less than an hour later, we came to the farmland and road entrance to Triplex Hut. There were the cars that had been kindly driven down to avoid a long slog back to the car park.

It had been an enjoyable tramp of less than eight hours. It had everything: tracks, hard climbs, scree, rocks, river crossings, saddles, huts, and spectacular views. Then it was home to treat the huge blisters, hoping they’d be gone before the next tramp.

Filed Under: Recent trips Tagged With: Te Atuaoparapara

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About us

We are a group of like-minded people who love the great outdoors. We tramp mostly in the Hawke’s Bay province, in remote areas such as the Kaweka and Ruahine Ranges; but we also travel longer distances to new places, for longer walks.

The Napier Tramping Club was established in 1974 and has about 70 members. We belong to the Federated Mountain Clubs of NZ Inc (FMC) and run Saturday, full-weekend and Wednesday tramps, every fortnight.

Interested in joining us?

Enjoy the great outdoors, keep fit and get to know others with similar interests.

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Latest news

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Useful links

  • Dept of Conservation
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  • Federated Mountain Clubs of NZ (FMC)
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  • New Zealand Tramper
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  • Wanganui Tramping Club

Useful links 2

  • Royal Forest & Bird Protection Society
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