Top Maropea Hut, Ruahine FP, Wednesday 23 July 2025
Banner Photo: Heading back to Armstrong Saddle with cloud having rolled in
We set off at 7.30am from Park Island in two vehicles en route to the car park for Sunrise Hut, where we were meeting the eighth member of our party (who lives close to Norsewood).
Two members were planning to just do the lower tracks and the rest set off about 9.15am. It took just over two hours to get up to Sunrise for a late morning tea. On the way, we encountered snow that had turned to patches of ice. However, the path has an even gradient and the snow wasn’t deep, so it was all very much OK.
Just below Sunrise Hut, we took a group photo before heading down
Two arrived early at the hut and scoped out Armstrong Saddle out the back. There was a somewhat cold but only light breeze so we were hopeful of at least getting across the saddle. The snow and the path were actually in a softer condition than further down below the hut. We went back to find the others had arrived and everyone had a rather cold gathering inside for morning tea.
With some trepidation from those who hadn’t been across before, we made our way through the snow. We were following one- or two-day-old prints from someone accompanied by what looked like a dog. Unfortunately, while we had been in the hut, low cloud had rolled in, cutting out the views of the mountain tops along the way.
The frozen tarn at Armstrong Saddle
All was going well but, by the time we got to Armstrong Saddle, we had already made the call against going through to Top Maropea Hut. With the low visibility and the possibility of icy patches on the way, it was deemed not safe to proceed. There was a bit of sunshine up there and with the tarns almost completely frozen over, it was a very magical place. We took some photos, then three elected to go back to the hut and three went up further, following the waratahs up through the snow-filled valley – just to see what it was like. That reinforced our decision, as the low cloud was even worse as far as we could see.
So we made our way back down and met the others. We all enjoyed our lunch out on the deck, which was actually warmer than inside the hut, leaving about 1pm for a quick descent. Going down, we travelled together and enjoyed hearing and seeing some of the birdlife. This included what one of our party thought was a rifleman up high in a tree (or possibly a grey warbler). That was thought unlikely until we discovered a DoC board which mentioned that both birds could be present. We also saw a keruru which seemed to be following us for a while. On the way down, we only saw two other day trampers.
We were back at the cars by 3pm to find Ted and Tony had also enjoyed their day. There was another person at the car park preparing to go up to Sunrise for the night, then over to Top Maropea the next day when the forecast was better.
Hopefully later in the year, we might get another chance to reach that elusive hut, which seems to keep coming up with reasons why we can’t get there!
Thanks to Donna and Juliet for driving.
Trampers: Sue Trotter, Donna Weston, Ted Angove, Selina Chilton, Mary Campbell, Tony Pluymers, Colin Jones and reporter Juliet Gillick
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