Napier Tramping Club

based in Hawke's Bay, New Zealand

Generic selectors
Exact matches only
Search in title
Search in content
Post Type Selectors
Generic selectors
Exact matches only
Search in title
Search in content
Post Type Selectors
  • Home
  • News
  • Recent trips
  • Meetings and Events
    • The Tramp List, and how to book online
    • Club meetings
    • Bike Rides
    • Eezee Tramps
  • Gear and fitness
    • Tramping gear details
  • History
    • Memory Lane
  • Contacts
    • Interested in joining

Winter Sunrise and just a little bit beyond…

July 26, 2016 by Alison Greer Leave a Comment

Top Maropea Hut, Saturday 16 July 2016

Nine of us left the car park at 8.30 in chilly temperatures and light drizzle, bound for Sunrise and Top Maropea huts. The tops looked pretty murky and our hearts sank as we envisaged a there-and-back trip with no views, no Armstrong Saddle, no Top Maropea and maybe no snow either (the whole point of going there at this time of year).

Someone has to check that the place is still there

Someone has to check that the place is still there

We scampered up to Sunrise with no mucking around. It was wet and muddy underfoot in places and they’d clearly had a lot more rain than in town. Smaller branches littered the track after the previous night’s high winds. Patchy snow and swirling sleet met us higher up and the raincoats went on. Misty views down to the farmland below and a decent covering of snow surrounded the hut. As promised by the two lots of overnighters we’d passed on the way, the fire was still smouldering.

A bellbird was heard – a lost bellbird perhaps! Several people popped their heads over to check on the saddle and reported an icy breeze but nothing worse. After a leisurely morning tea, enhanced by Pauline’s yummy rocky road, we layered up and trudged across the saddle – it was looking all black and white and grey up ahead, quite broody with the snow clouds – while we averted our heads to avoid the stinging sleet. The tarns were slushy and partly frozen.

We clambered up to the signpost to survey the route up ahead (at least we could see it). We agreed it was possible but wouldn’t be pleasant so we reluctantly conceded and retraced our steps, along with yelps and laughter as the rearguard hurled a few snow balls around.

It snowed while we ate lunch, making a pretty picture outside and obscuring our earlier footsteps. Another lump of wood on the fire and it was time to hightail back down again, passing 14 people heading up for the night, a few kids among them.

Before 3pm, we were enclosed in the warmth and comfort of the Sawyers Arms at Tiko, pleased we’d found snow, got across the saddle – and Top Maropea would just have to wait for another day.

Trampers: Rosemary Jeffery, Jude Paton, John Dobbs, Geoff Donkin, Bruce Hodgson, Juliet Gillick, Marty Wood, Pauline Loughman and reporter Alison Greer

Filed Under: Recent trips Tagged With: Ruahine Forest Park, Top Maropea Hut

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Our most recent trips

This new-look bivvy’s great, if you’re colour-blind

Black Birch bivvy, Kaweka FP, Wednesday 18 January 2023 Banner Photo: The newly refurbed bivvy Drizzle and cool temperatures greeted us at … Read More

Plan C works out on our maiden 2023 tramp

Sentry Box, Parks Peak Track to Golden Crown Ridge Track, Saturday 14 January 2023. Ruahine FP, Map: BK37 Banner Photo: A whitehead. We saw and … Read More

An historic hut has had some TLC

Makahu Saddle to Kaweka Flats Bivvy, Iron Whare, Kaweka FP, Saturday 26 November 2022 Banner Photo: Iron Whare sits in a clearing We decided to do … Read More

News

February 2023 News

February 4, 2023 By Julia Mackie Leave a Comment

Mokai Access to Iron Bark and Colenso Huts Copied from the Ruahine User Group (Private) Facebook … Read More

January 2023 News

January 1, 2023 By Julia Mackie Leave a Comment

Aranga Hut On Saturday 14 January the tramp was changed to a loop in the Northern Ruahine Range. … Read More

About us

We are a group of like-minded people who love the great outdoors. We tramp mostly in the Hawke’s Bay province, in remote areas such as the Kaweka and Ruahine Ranges; but we also travel longer distances to new places, for longer walks.

The Napier Tramping Club was established in 1974 and has about 70 members. We belong to the Federated Mountain Clubs of NZ Inc (FMC) and run Saturday, full-weekend and Wednesday tramps, every fortnight.

Interested in joining us?

Enjoy the great outdoors, keep fit and get to know others with similar interests.

More information

Latest news

February 2023 News

Mokai Access to Iron Bark and Colenso Huts Copied from the Ruahine User Group (Private) Facebook … Read More

January 2023 News

Aranga Hut On Saturday 14 January the tramp was changed to a loop in the Northern Ruahine Range. … Read More

Latest trip

This new-look bivvy’s great, if you’re colour-blind

Useful links

  • Dept of Conservation
  • DoC Huts Use, Kaweka Forest Park
  • Federated Mountain Clubs of NZ (FMC)
  • Heretaunga Tramping Club
  • New Zealand Tramper
  • NZ Walking Access Commission
  • Wanganui Tramping Club

Useful links 2

  • Royal Forest & Bird Protection Society
  • Weather forecast

Copyright © 2023 · Napier Tramping Club · Sign In · Website by D2 ·