Checking out the refurbed Leon Kinvig Hut

Leon Kinvig Hut, Ruahine Forest Park, Saturday/Sunday 20/21 August 2022
Banner Photo: The view south-west from the ridgeline, with dramatic clouds

Six trampers took to the road for the Apiti Track in reasonable weather. By 0830, it was boots on and off we went into a light rain. It soon cleared and we had dry weather for the rest of the tramp.

We spread out when the track became more difficult, due to the wet weather the track was slippery. We sidled around rock falls and cliffs, but we met up again at the junction of the track to Makeretu Hut (not marked on topo maps, but at 1865126/5565262). After a break, it was onwards and upwards. A long, slow climb up to the top took about 1.5 hours; from the top, our drop down to the hut was about an hour.

Leon Kinvig has recently undergone a makeover, courtesy of the BackCountry Trust. There is a new roof, new woodshed and a nice new wood burner to replace the open fire. The burner was put to use that evening and worked just fine.

Five of us used the hut, while Campbell tested out his new tent.

It blew like hell during the night but the morning dawned dry with little wind. Everyone was homeward bound by 0730 with the climb out starting immediately we left the hut. On leaving the tree line, it was very windy and somewhat challenging to get to the junction to head down the Apiti Track, but in 30 minutes we were all across the tops and back in shelter. Walking along the ridgeline, there are views east and west. The track was a lovely mossy green.

We met again at the Makaretu Jct, for a photo opportunity and the last leg across some tricky parts. The track had dried out overnight and was not as slippery, passing some NZ Mountain Foxglove (Ourisia Macrophylla) on the banks of the track.

We reached the cars at 1330 for the drive home.

Trampers: Alison Greer, Julia Mackie, Lynette Morgan, Campbell Living and drivers Fiona Bryant and reporter Mark Jenkins (who also organised the tramp)