Southern Ruahine Crossing, Wednesday 16 October 2024
Banner Photo: At Maharahara high point, really muddy sections yet to come
We left Park Island on a beautiful sunny morning in two cars at 7am, picking up Di and Ted on the way. A pitstop in Woodville was well-timed as it took 2 3/4 hours to get to the start of the track at Opawe Road end.
Six set off in a chilly wind around 9.45 while Tony and Ted drove off in the vehicles to Dannevirke and coffee. Then on to Kumeti Road end for a walk and to wait for the rest of us.
The tramp starts off on farmland following a fenceline. It was really quite wet and boggy, even on the hill, and then the climb starts! I have done this tramp before but long enough ago to forget just how tough that climb is.
Another refuel stop
The views are incredible. The park boundary where we started was a long way down. We stopped for a break and spied a beautiful clematis all over a tree. Then onwards and upwards to Maharahara view point at 1095m. A good spot out of the wind to refuel.
The first part of the track along the top was reasonably clear and easy to walk but gradually the leatherwood encroached, the flaxes got taller and closer. The grasses were waist height which made it hard to see the dips and troughs in the track. The track was very, very muddy. There was some gracious sliding (and some not so gracious). Muddy knees, butts and elbows plus scratched arms. The last hour on the ridge was enjoyable as the bush was really attractive with lots of miro, horopito and large ferns – and no mud.
Trying to locate Kiritaki Hut (out of photo, but above the slip)
We finally got down to Mangapuaka Stream and had to cross it quite a few times, which was a good way to clean muddy footwear. We spied an enormous fat kereru keeping watch. After six hours tramping (including breaks) we reached the car park and our ride at 3.45. It was close to 6pm when we got back to Park Island.
Thank you to Juliet and Alison for providing transport.
Trampers: Juliet Gillick, Keith Gore, Sue Martin, Alison Greer, Di Reid, Ted Angove, Tony Pluymers and reporter Michele Ericksen
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