Napier Tramping Club

based in Hawke's Bay, New Zealand

Generic selectors
Exact matches only
Search in title
Search in content
Post Type Selectors
Generic selectors
Exact matches only
Search in title
Search in content
Post Type Selectors
  • Home
  • News
  • Recent trips
  • Meetings and Events
    • The Tramp List, and how to book online
    • Club meetings
    • Bike Rides
    • Eezee Tramps
  • Gear and fitness
    • Tramping gear details
  • History
    • Memory Lane
  • Contacts
    • Interested in joining

Some were blown off their feet

November 20, 2016 by Geoff Donkin Leave a Comment

Waterfall Hut, Ruahine FP, Saturday/Sunday, 19-20 November 2016
Map: BK36
Banner photo: Heading up to Rangi Saddle

We headed up the Waipawa River from the river car park. Just below Waipawa Saddle, three day trippers with us turned back. There was a strong wind running over the saddle. Going down the razorback track opposite the waterfall proved difficult – but downstream, the going was easier with less wind. At Waikamaka Hut, three members of Heretaunga Tramping Club were building a new covered deck. We had lunch inside and, after a brief chat, set off upstream, passing major storm damage with trees and branches all over the place.

Heading up to Waipawa Saddle on a light drizzly day, with low visibility

Heading up to Waipawa Saddle on a light drizzly day, with low visibility

We headed up towards Rangi Saddle as the mist and the rain got worse. We couldn’t see track or markers. Looking at the smartphone map with its GPS locator, we were about 200m from the saddle with about 100m to climb. The map showed just one stream, going up towards the saddle with the route running alongside. After some discussion, we ended up following the stream in front of us. Unfortunately, while there was only one stream on the map, there were more on the ground.

We ended up following the wrong one up to the ridge below Rangioteatua. Once on the ridge, we followed it down in strong winds to the saddle. There was a waratah on the saddle which led to the right route.

Back on track, we made good progress down to Rangi Creek. On the way, we passed more erosion damage. We went downstream to the junction with the Kawhatau River, then headed up the flats to the large cairn marking the position of Waterfall Hut. Once there, it was good to get out of our wet gear and rest; we were all tired. Simon tried to get the fire going, with some success, but it also produced a fair bit of smoke.
There was some wind and rain in the night, and next morning we left at just after 8am. The sky was clearer, but it was still windy. It didn’t take long to get to Rangi Saddle.

Heading down from Rangi Saddle on a windy day but with much more visibility

Heading down from Rangi Saddle on a windy day but with much more visibility

LES was scrawled into the ground on top of the saddle and we could see Les way off in the distance. There was good visibility so we knew where to descend from the saddle. The “track” is not very obvious, partly due to large clumps of tussock. On the way down, we passed a couple of waratahs and worked out the we should have kept to the right going up to the saddle on the previous day, rather than the left. We headed through the storm debris, downstream to Waikamaka Hut, arriving before 11 am for a pre-lunch. The Heretaunga team were making good progress.

Then it was on towards Waipawa Saddle, and still very windy. We made a cautious climb over the narrow track opposite a waterfall, where gusts were blowing some of the water upwards. Going over the saddle, several in the party were blown off their feet.

Once over the saddle and perhaps 10m below the top, we were out of the wind and took a quick break to regroup. Heading down the Waipawa, we could see a nice sunny day in Hawke’s Bay.
The route down the Waipawa seemed to be better than on past occasions when we have been in the river due to too much undergrowth. Further downstream, we stopped in a sheltered area for the second instalment of lunch. We continued downriver, with many crossings, getting back to the car park at about 3pm. All that river work had been hard on the feet.

Trampers: Alison, Juliet, Simon, Phil and reporter Geoff
Photos: Geoff Donkin

Filed Under: Recent trips

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Our most recent trips

This new-look bivvy’s great, if you’re colour-blind

Black Birch bivvy, Kaweka FP, Wednesday 18 January 2023 Banner Photo: The newly refurbed bivvy Drizzle and cool temperatures greeted us at … Read More

Plan C works out on our maiden 2023 tramp

Sentry Box, Parks Peak Track to Golden Crown Ridge Track, Saturday 14 January 2023. Ruahine FP, Map: BK37 Banner Photo: A whitehead. We saw and … Read More

An historic hut has had some TLC

Makahu Saddle to Kaweka Flats Bivvy, Iron Whare, Kaweka FP, Saturday 26 November 2022 Banner Photo: Iron Whare sits in a clearing We decided to do … Read More

News

February 2023 News

February 4, 2023 By Julia Mackie Leave a Comment

Mokai Access to Iron Bark and Colenso Huts Copied from the Ruahine User Group (Private) Facebook … Read More

January 2023 News

January 1, 2023 By Julia Mackie Leave a Comment

Aranga Hut On Saturday 14 January the tramp was changed to a loop in the Northern Ruahine Range. … Read More

About us

We are a group of like-minded people who love the great outdoors. We tramp mostly in the Hawke’s Bay province, in remote areas such as the Kaweka and Ruahine Ranges; but we also travel longer distances to new places, for longer walks.

The Napier Tramping Club was established in 1974 and has about 70 members. We belong to the Federated Mountain Clubs of NZ Inc (FMC) and run Saturday, full-weekend and Wednesday tramps, every fortnight.

Interested in joining us?

Enjoy the great outdoors, keep fit and get to know others with similar interests.

More information

Latest news

February 2023 News

Mokai Access to Iron Bark and Colenso Huts Copied from the Ruahine User Group (Private) Facebook … Read More

January 2023 News

Aranga Hut On Saturday 14 January the tramp was changed to a loop in the Northern Ruahine Range. … Read More

Latest trip

This new-look bivvy’s great, if you’re colour-blind

Useful links

  • Dept of Conservation
  • DoC Huts Use, Kaweka Forest Park
  • Federated Mountain Clubs of NZ (FMC)
  • Heretaunga Tramping Club
  • New Zealand Tramper
  • NZ Walking Access Commission
  • Wanganui Tramping Club

Useful links 2

  • Royal Forest & Bird Protection Society
  • Weather forecast

Copyright © 2023 · Napier Tramping Club · Sign In · Website by D2 ·