Sunrise to Sparrowhawk Bivvy, Ruahine FP, Saturday 12 November 2022
Banner Photo: Taken from hp1476, looking south to hp1499
The weather during the week leading up to this tramp was rain, more rain and heavy rain on Friday evening with clearing weather for Saturday. Fingers crossed, the weather forecast was correct this time, although with rain all Friday evening, this seemed very doubtful.
The route across from Sunrise Hut to Sparrowhawk Biv
Saturday morning dawned blue sky with light patches of cloud. How lucky were we.
The van with nine on board set off along Highway 50, heading towards the Sunrise Hut car park, the start of our excursion for the day. Clearly obvious was the thick cloud cover enveloping the entire Ruahine Range with what appeared to be heavy rain cloud on the west side of the range, where we were heading.
Van parked, packs donned and ready to set off at 8.45, the sound of thunder was a little ominous of what was to come, or so we thought.
The hike up to Sunrise Hut can be a bit tedious but is necessary to reach many of the huts and bivs in the Ruahine Range, so it’s a matter of head down and just get the job done. The humidity was high, so sweating was ‘a plenty’.
We arrived at Sunrise Hut at 10.30 to glorious clear skies, sunshine and not a breath of wind – amazing.
We had a short rest break, a drink and filled our water bottles as there wouldn’t be any more water fills until Sparrowhawk Bivvy, four hours away.
Over the crest out the back of Sunrise Hut, you are straight away treated to views of Te Atuaoparapara – they are spectacular. Today we would be heading towards Armstrong Saddle then over the tops to Maropea at 1481m before dropping down to Sparrowhawk Bivvy.
It’s been a couple of years since the club last did this tramp and with a little difficulty in one area with route-finding back then; today, with our trusty pilot Julia leading and second pilot Alison following close behind, we were in good hands.
Negotiating the ridge line bush section
Standing at Armstrong Saddle looking at where we were heading, it almost seemed as if we were in a scene from The Sound of Music, skipping along the ‘smooth clear tops’… don’t be fooled.
The plentiful thick tussock grass, abundant, low-growing leatherwood scrub, occasional Spaniard plant, holes and dips make for perfect ankle-twisting if you are not careful, so our progress was slower than we had anticipated – although, considering the terrain, we did tick along at a fair pace.
Some of the way was route-finding, which was great fun for those of us that haven’t been this way to Sparrowhawk Bivvy. I have recorded the track on my NZ Topo50 app for use next time we do this tramp.
Tarns near the hp1481
We stopped for a 20-minute lunch break at noon on a clearing where we could enjoy views west down to the Maropea River and out to high point Rongotea, at the same time watching some very dark rain clouds heading towards us.
We had no sooner started walking when we had to pull on rain jackets for a very brief but heavy dousing, then it was jackets off again ten minutes later as the humidity made for exhausting work. We finally arrived at Sparrowhawk at 2.30 where a billy boil-up for coffee and tea was well-deserved.
Because of the leatherwood on the northern section, this tramp took us a little longer than we had expected.
We arrive at Sparrowhawk after 4hrs from Sunrise Hut
The drop down the Sparrowhawk Track to Gold Creek took two hours, so wet feet at end of day, but what a relief to let the cold water soak in boots and socks. After a 30-minute walk across farmland, we were finally back at the waiting van at 5.30pm.
Thanks to Sue for driving the van from the Sunrise car park to the Hall’s Farm on Glenny Road. Sue did her own tramp up to Sunrise Hut before returning to the van and being our driver at end of day.
Trampers: Leaders Julia Mackie and Alison Greer; Juliet Gillick, Michele Ericksen, Craig and Anne Mountfort, Julian Phillips, Sue Martin and reporter Lynette Morgan
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