Studholme Saddle Hut, Kaweka Forest Park, Saturday 31 Aug/Sunday 1 Sept, 2024
Banner Photo: On arrival at Studholme Saddle Hut, pleased to get there
There was a sniff of inclement weather as we drove towards the Lakes car park, intending to overnight at Studholme Saddle Hut. Forecast strong winds on the tops had us make a quick change to plans A and B when we got to the intersection and diverted to Mackintosh car park. We agreed to start there and walk with the day trampers to Mackintosh Hut, then take the Mackintosh Spur up to the tops, then down to the hut, and return the same way the following day. This turned out to be a very good plan.
Soon after arriving at the car park, the van arrived with 12 day trampers, including three new people.
Near the top of Mackintosh Spur, amongst the wilding pines
Leaving the car park, there’s a short road walk before starting the track. Unusual for the Kawekas, the walk started with a downhill towards the bridged Tutaekuri River. The newly cut track (due to slip damage caused by Cyclone Gabrielle) had us going straight up a steep and slippery section before levelling out and joining the original Mackintosh track once we reached the plateau. Sections are through pine forests with no undergrowth and devoid of colour, contrasting with the native forest full of colour and life. We arrived at Mackintosh Hut at 10.15 and spent the next half hour having morning tea, chatting to the day trampers and catching up on their eventful trip (see the day trip report).
The climb up Mackintosh Spur was a slow and steady grind; part-way up, it started to rain so we donned our coats and continued; we could feel the wind strengthen as we got closer to the tops. Before getting out of the bush, we added and hats and gloves, and braced ourselves as we headed into the wind, expecting it to be strong but a little surprised at its icy bite. It was a short walk across the saddle before we started our steep descent to the newly located Studholme Saddle Hut, which now sits on the site of the old Studholme Saddle Bivouac. What a welcome site “rescue orange” was as we approached the hut to our right over a small stream. We arrived at 1.10pm.
This was the first visit to the newly placed hut for everyone. We went on a little side trip to the old hut site, criss-crossing the stream and noticing plenty of tree fall post-cyclone.
Studholme Saddle Hut now in its perfect location
We were just settling ourselves in for the evening when two other trampers arrived, so it was five for the night in a four-bed hut. The open fireplace had been replaced with a wood burner as part of the site relocation, and it took some time to get it going with all the wet wood. Once alight, it makes for a nice cosy hut. The weather packed it in overnight, with rain and high winds. As forecast, the weather had settled by morning, the sun periodically blinding as we climbed eastward.
The hut in sight at last
The first day of spring was a beauty. It was a crisp and cool to start as we made our ascent out of the valley and onto the tops. We were rewarded with stunning views and a beautiful clear blue sky. We stopped briefly to send messages to family to say that we were OK, then headed back down Mackintosh Spur, making it to Mackintosh Hut at 10am for morning tea and enjoying more sunshine before starting the last section.
The day continued to heat up and it was a pleasant walk out after the night’s rain. The last half hour was spent climbing out of the native bush and into the pine forest. We were at the track end by 12.20 and back on the road for Napier by 1pm. We later heard that the two trampers we had shared the hut with had some issues with their car tyres being spiked at Lakes car park.
Trampers: Julia Mackie, Craig Mountfort and reporter Anne Mountfort
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