Galbraith Hut – Taraponui, Wednesday 19 July 2023
Banner Photo: Galbraith Hut, an historic treasure
What a wonderful day, climbing the dizzy heights of the Maungaharuru Range, from Waitara Station on the slopes above the Mohaka River, past Galbraith Hut to the communication towers upon Taraponui – at 1308m, the highest point of the range.
It was a sobering drive through the Esk Valley, for some their first time post-Gabrielle, witnessing the destruction. A couple of stops for road works didn’t hold us up for too long, before turning onto Waitara Road and Brooks Road. Funny how the speed limit changes from 80k to100k after leaving the main highway; hard to figure really!
Destruction was plain to see on this side of the range as well. Huge slips have brought masses of silt down the hillsides, inundating farm buildings and yards. Diggers and trucks were working to redirect the stream away from buildings. Fortunately the station houses were spared any damage.
Frost was still on the ground as we made the straightforward walk along farm roads to Galbraith Hut. We saw lots of repair work, new fencing and washed-out streams and still those slips everywhere on the hillsides.
Morning tea was at the hut where the fire was going and a quad bike stood outside. Pete the hunter arrived back from exploring the surrounding ridges, regaling us with numbers of pigs and deer in the area. Ted arrived and the two of them spent a pleasant morning in the sun, chatting over cups of tea.
For the rest, it was onward and upward until we reached the plateau where you leave the farm and climb the grassy slopes to the top. A cold wind had sprung up so Sue, Marie, and Keith decided that was enough for them.
Our reduced group carried on, surprisingly taking only 45 minutes to reach the towers. Small pockets of snow from three nights previously still lay on the ground, very little compared to other trips.
Taraponui is such an open area, which gives 360 degree views. Snow-covered Ruapehu stood out past the Kaweka Range in the west and, in the east, all of Hawke Bay from Mahia to Cape Kidnappers. It’s such an amazing sight! We hunkered down on the lee side out of the cold wind but didn’t linger over lunch.
Photos taken, we retraced our steps, stopping every now and then to discard the layers we had put on, the lower down we got. We met up and chatted with Lloyd Holloway and his dogs. He seemed to have stopped and chatted to everyone; perhaps he was out checking we were all OK.
Back at the van, John announced it had been exactly six hours since we had set off, so good work everyone. It had been a great day, one of my favourite tramps, made better by the sunny weather and company.
Many thanks to Sonia and Lloyd for allowing us continued access through their station; it is so appreciated.
Trampers: Cherie Le Lievre, Sue Martin, Ted Angove, Marie Deroles, John Dobbs, Andrea Hanna, Juliet Gillick, Keith James, Sue Gribble, Geoff Donkin and reporter Alison Greer
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