Kaweka J, Saturday 10 May 2025
Banner Photo: Heading back from North Kaweka
Eleven keen trampers met at Park Island on a cool but potentially lovely day.
The plan had been to do Makahu to Middle Hill Hut with Bruce offering to drive the van round to the other end and meet us. However, due to very heavy rain the evening before, I was concerned about the river crossing, the slippery clay pans and would the van get over the ford? I suggested we do Kaweka J as an alternative and everyone seemed to be happy with that.
When we were close to Puketitiri, there was a dreadful noise from under the van and it transpired that the apparatus holding the spare wheel had loosened and dropped and was being dragged on the road. Mark was onto it in a flash, re-hooked it up and after trying to tighten the bolt to hold it with someone’s spoon, we found the van toolkit bag in the front glove compartment! The bolt was then tightened properly and we continued on.
Amelia, at the recently refurbished Kaweka Flats Biv
It was lovely and sunny when we reached the car park and surprisingly not that muddy underfoot. Bruce, Mark and Amelia opted to go to Kaweka Flats while the rest of us launched towards the top at about 8.40am.
Having scrambled up the scree, we had morning tea at the biv in sunny weather and almost no wind. There was cloud below and a bit of cloud above and very picturesque.
Dominie Biv loo (with a view)
We reached the top turnoff – the trig/North Kaweka – and most opted to go to the North for lunch while a couple just did the trig, then had lunch viewing Ruapehu and Ngauruhoe, partly through the clouds. The clouds were rising from the valley and those at North Kaweka unfortunately did not get much of a view. The clouds rose above us like a big blanket but it wasn’t cold and still almost no wind, so virtually perfect conditions.
Ruapehu and Ngauruhoe seen from the Kaweka Range
We all met back at the van soon after 2pm. Mark had cleared 13 traps on his walk, all rats. Good job Mark! I asked how was the river crossing? Amelia said it came up to her knees, Mark and Bruce claimed it was at least chest height, they may have even got their snorkels out (yeah right).
After much banter, swapping of stories, nibbles and drinks, we headed home. Di drove and had to listen to various discussions about glasses of wine and gin and tonics when people got home. We were back at Park Island at 3.40pm in much sunnier weather than we had left behind us.
Trampers: Amelia Moorhead, Bruce Hodgson, Mark Jenkins, Alison Greer, Phil Shakespeare, Julian Phillips, Kate Fuller, Jenny Burns, Shona Tupe, Keith Gore and reporter Di Reid
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