It was a wonderland, happy place!

Sunrise Hut, Ruahine FP, Wednesday 22 June 2022.
Banner Photo: Sunrise Hut

The original target: Parks Peak. The problem: the longest walk on the shortest day and with the Makarora River up. We happily changed the plan to Sunrise Hut and the hope of seeing some snow.

We forget just how beautiful that walk is.

Towards the top, we could see ice had gathered in places. Then more and more ice had formed on every tree branch and leaf, icicles dripping and falling. Everything sparkled as we moved. It was a wonderland, happy place!

The hut is great and it wasn’t long until the wood-burner was blazing. The day was still, quiet and foggy, so no view and no venturing along Armstrong Saddle. That will be next time.

Our return journey featured turkeys, peacock, farmland and gates.

Thank you to our special drivers, Alison and Bruce, who stopped on the way home for us to gather again at the warm and friendly Tikokino pub. A great day out.

Trampers: Bruce Hodgson, Alison Greer, Sue Gribble, Ted Angove, Mary Campbell, Dorothy Sole and reporter Gaye Gasser