We nearly roasted going up to the Hogget

The Hogget, Kaweka FP, Wednesday July 29 2020. Map: BJ37
Banner Pix: The view to Mts Ruapehu and Ngauruhoe

We had a large group of 21, leaving Park Island in a van and two cars. With the permission of the landowners, we accessed the farm track through Timahanga Station.

After a short stroll along the farm road, we crossed the Mangataramea Stream. The climb to the top is gradual, with large rimu and beech trees along the edge of the track and plenty of bush lawyer to keep an eye out for. We stopped to take off layers; the warm weather was unusual for this time of the year.  In fact, in all the trips I’ve done to the Hogget, it was certainly the warmest.

Three members went to the hunter’s hut for lunch and returned back to the van a bit earlier.

There were fabulous views to the west of Ruapehu and Ngauruhoe blanketed in snow as we followed the ridge climbing to the highest point of 1287m. We could see Mt Meany to the north and the Kaweka Range to the east.

At the Hogget, a clay pan has the words “The Yards” laid out in rocks.  The sign has been well maintained since I first tramped there more than ten years ago. We had lunch in a sunny sheltered spot, took a couple of group selfies and then headed back down, stopping at the hut for a quick look. There was some bird life back down in the bush, the odd grey warbler and tui calling to us.

Another enjoyable day with a great group of trampers.

Trampers: Julia Mackie, Sue Martin, Viv Bramley, Sue Gribble, Denise Bavidge, Alison Greer, Murray White, Dorothy Sole, Matthew Nisbett, Ted Angove, Sue Marshall, John Burrell, John Dobbs, Cherie Le Lievre, Sally Woods, Margaret Palmer, Hilary Heath-Caldwell, Amber Cooper, Gordon Tapp, Lynette Morgan and reporter Rosemary Jeffery