Longview Hut, Ruahine Forest Park , Wednesday 9 Nov 2016. Map: BL36
Banner: The exposed ridgeline heading up to Longview Hut.
The morning dawned sunny, clear and calm, and with high hopes of a good day the group headed for Highway 50. The Ruahine Range was clear of cloud, something not seen in a while.
We arrived at a new designated car park on Kashmir Rd at the start of the last climb up to Moorcock Saddle. Here the road was so rutted we were unable to drive any further. On walking up the road, we felt the first signs of a stirring breeze and by the time we arrived at the top of the new zig-zag track, the wind was really building.
We’d thought we had outsmarted the weather this time but this is the Ruahines, with weather all its own, and the track to Longview is well known for wind. Several of the party turned back, leaving seven to battle it out and reach the hut, pleased for some respite.
Longview Hut is well named; the views over the Ruataniwha plains to the Eastern coastal hills were magnificent, but we did not linger as we needed to head down before the winds rose even higher.All arrived back at the van safely then headed back, stopping off at the Tiko pub for coffee.
A beautiful day spoiled only by the strong winds, but at least we made it to the hut this time!
Trampers: Rosemary Jeffery, Dorothy Sole, Murray White, Peter Slagter, Vic Bullock, Paul Exeter, Ted Angove, John Marshall, Viv Bramley, Sue Marshall, Annemaree Ruffell, Hilary Heath-Caldwell, Keith James and reporter and photos Alison Greer
Editor’s note: The road up to the usual carpark is being graded sometime in November 2016.
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