Gold Creek Hut, Ruahine FP, Wednesday 11 September 2019
Banner Pix: Gold Creek Hut in tidy condition
Eight of us left Park Island at 7.30 in the van with Hilary in the driving seat, picking up Rosemary and Sue on the way. We exited the van at the end of Glenny Road at 9am for a cold and windy start.
Vic did a local walk while the rest of us crossed the farm, dodging sheep and lambs so as not to disturb them. We arrived at the fenceline gate at the edge of the farm and the beginning of the DoC track at 9.30am.
This track undulates through beech and some rimu, and there were great views of snow-covered tops a short way in. Shortly after morning tea around 10.15, Ted decided to head back. By 10.30, we were in snow up to our calves, with more snow hanging in the trees. The track was gentle, with a steep descent to the river and Gold Creek Hut. Four trampers crossed the river to the hut for lunch and the rest decided to not wet their feet and had theirs on the other side. After lunch, it was a steep climb back up for half an hour, then along the ridge, retracing our footprints in the snow.We were out of the bush and at the farm fenceline at around 2.30 and back at the van by 3pm. With a stop for refreshments at the Tikokino pub, we made it to Napier by 5pm.
Trampers: Vic Bullock, Sue Trotter, Cherie Le Lievre, Ted Angove, Hilary Heath-Caldwell, Marie Buckman, Keith James, John Burrell, Rosemary Jeffery, and reporter John Bennett
Leave a Reply