Sunrise Hut,Ruahine FP, Wednesday 29 September 2021 After few days of miserable weather, the day looked very promising, with clear blue skies in Napier. This being only the second trip since lockdown meant a large turnout of 19 trampers, raring to go on the relatively easy Sunrise Track. Excitement mounted on the way to our… [Read More]
Two tales of misplaced and recovered – our Smedley medley
Smedley Station, Wednesday, 4 August 2021 It has been many years since the club visited Smedley, so we were very pleased to receive permission to tramp in this historic, 5500-hectare station. Smedley has been a cadet training farm since 1931 and is located at the end of Smedley Road, off SH50. The station was originally… [Read More]
The snow above us was a bonus
Longview Track, route to Daphne Track, Ruahine FP, Wednesday 21 July 2021. Map: BL36 Banner Photo: Heading across to the Daphne Track With a change of leader from Julia to Juliet, we headed off with Juliet as van driver and Sue Martin as car driver. It was all going well until we hit Kashmir Road… [Read More]
A feast to celebrate midwinter
Winter Solstice tramp to Sunrise Hut, then a banquet at Triplex Hut, Ruahine FP, Wednesday 23 June 2021 Banner Photo: Lunch is prepared at Triplex Hut Our Winter Solstice tramp was to Sunrise Hut, with a shared lunch to end the day at Triplex Hut. Twelve – a full van – headed to the start… [Read More]
This is crazy!
Rangiwahia Hut, Iron Gate Hut via Triangle Hut, Otumore, and Kashmir Road-end. Ruahine FP, Sat-Mon 5-7 June, 2021 Banner Photo: Descending the steep track to Triangle Hut, and the amazing band of mountain cedar With most of the club members heading into Rangiwahia for an overnighter, Geoff and I decided that we would do more…. [Read More]
Overflowing at the Rangiwahia 12-bunk Inn
Rangiwahia Hut, Ruahine FP, Sat/Sun 5/6 June 2021 Banner Photo: The loos at Rangiwahia Hut The Brown Sugar Café (Ray Slavin’s second tramping hut) was calling us as we approached Taihape, where we enjoyed a coffee before heading to Renfrew Road car park and the start of the tramp. Everyone gasped when we saw the… [Read More]
Great views and slippery slopes
A-Frame Hut, Stanfield Hut, Ruahine FP, Wednesday 26 May 2021. Map: BL36 Banner Photo: The new look A-Frame Hut. Thirteen of us, including four Johns, turned up for a tramp in the Tamaki West Road area. The weather forecast was better the further south we went, so this was just the place to go. With… [Read More]
Clearing the traps, and grumbles about track times
Parks Peak Hut, Ruahine FP, Saturday 22 May 2021, Map BL36 Banner Photo: The trap cleared and being re-set Five trampers headed off for the day walk up via Sentry Box to Parks Peak Hut. For Juliet and Di, it was a revisit from the previous fortnight when a tramp in the same area had… [Read More]
Fun and fungi galore – but a few scrapes, too
Sentry Box, Golden Crown, Master’s Shelter, Saturday 8 May 2021 Banner Photo: Looking back to Hawke’s Bay, from the Golden Crown track With a full vanload and John D driving, we headed off down through Maraekakaho, past Keruru Station and into the Mangleton Valley. We went first to Sentry Box Hut car park to drop… [Read More]
Acrophobia and Arachnophobia day
Apiti Track, Mangatewainui River, Ruahine FP, Wednesday 17 March 2021 Banner Photo: The very low river levels, Mangatewainui Stream This tramp blessed us with many experiences. It was not a ‘ho-hum, get the job done’ sort of day. Norsewood has a reputation for being one of the coldest spots in Central Hawke’s Bay. On this… [Read More]
Well done Barry for getting wet feet
Daphne Hut, Ruahine FP, Wednesday 3 March 2021. Map: BL36 Banner Photo: Daphne Hut (before the makeover) Nine trampers in three cars left Park Island for Daphne Hut. Kashmir Road is a lot easier to negotiate these days, with no potholes. Six decided to go right through to the hut while the others wandered up… [Read More]
No walk in the Park for us, but the deer ran well
Smith Stream, Ruahine Tops, Waikamaka Hut, Waipawa River, Sat-Mon 6-8 February 2021. Maps: BL36 and BK36 Photos by Phil Enticott and Julia Mackie The planned tramp was changed to make it easier for bodies that aren’t getting any younger. But it was still no walk in the park. It started at the Waipawa River car… [Read More]