A Shit Weasel Hut Bagging Mission 13th/14th Feb!

Park the van up at the emergency car park and run over the Slip to Otaki Forks…

08:02 Start at the bridge and go clockwise towards Waitewaewae Hut. 45 mins in (08:47) I get to the path split. Decision time, explore the unknown old slip track, or take the horrible track above the slip that I have no love for?

I go with the slip option. 8 minutes later and I’m thinking I’ve made a mistake.

It’s pretty clear that I’m not going to sidle across this one, I try climbing up the side to go over the top but it’s taking too much effort. I’m trying to be efficient with my energy today. It’s nothing but thick bush and I’m pulling trees out as soon as I get close to the edge!

Now there are a couple of blog posts about passing up over this slip which I had scanned over before i left, but these are both over 8 years old and I think the slip has grown since then.

To preserve my skin I decide to put my gloves and gaiters on to protect myself from the sharp rocks. I smash and slide down through the bush and eventually pop out onto the lower half of the slip which has a more forgiving gradient. 25 minutes later and I’ve stopped faffing around.

At the bottom is the Waitatapia Stream.

It’s a pleasant spot but I don’t have time to linger. I follow it up stream and soon find the old track. It’s slippy under foot so it’s slow going, river travel is never fast. I think the new (shit) track would have saved me heaps of time but I’m all good with the adventure.

I’m soon distracted again as I spot a possum. It scurries up a tree to escape. I pick up a rock and knock it out of the tree on my first shot. Whilst killing possums is always high on the agenda I have to remind myself that this is not the days mission. This one will keep and I take solace in the knowledge that I’ve already killed one this year so am still being a good kiwi.

Waitewaewae Hut

I think this has to be the worst hut in the Tararuas! There are 4 lazy bums inside who are still in their sleeping bags. It’s like a bedroom full of unmotivated, depressed teenagers.

One French lad says hello and talks about to walking to Parawai Lodge. He asks if I’m staying the night! “Hell no, it’s a shit hole” I reply before engaging my filter! I have an early lunch and am out of there asap.

11:38 and I leave the river behind for the slog up the hill.

14:05 and I’ve made it to Junction Knob. 360° views which you never get tired of. I can see many peaks which I know. Arete, Banister, Mitre, Broken Axe, McGregor and Mount Holdworth, Later in the day Hector comes into frame too. I also spot Park forks and Dorset Creek which I had ventured down the previous weekend…

Although I should be paying attention to where I place my feet I keep getting distracted and end up flat on my face a couple of times.

14:38 and Byrus bags this second hut of the trip and I have a second lunch.

16:52 and I reach Aokaparangi. I feel like I’m slowing down. I’m not used to going this fast for this long and I’m starting to question my endurance.

I note that the DOC sign says Maungahuka hut 3-4 hours (5 mins to Aokap Biv junction)

5 minutes later at the Junction the next sign reads 2 hours 40 mins to Maungahuka. It’s lunacy. Normally the times get harder to beat the deeper you get into the Tararuas, yet this is the easiest 1 hour 20 you’ll ever do!

I leave my pack and run down to check the biv out.

17:05 and I’m at the Biv and am greeted by a black goat. I give it the devil salute and it disappears into the bush.

Aokaparangi Hut

It’s a super sweet spot and a very spacious biv (OK the sign says Hut). Byrus has his photo taken and I have another quick break.

The toilet is pleasant too now that we are away from the volume of crap created by the TA Walkers.

17:30 and I’m back on the main trail after my little side trip.

Soon I can see Maungahuka hut it the distance. it looks like a long way to go.

One last push on tired legs over Wright and Simpson and I’m at Maungahuka for 19:18.

I had told myself that if I got there by 5pm then I’d push on and do the whole loop in one day, but it was not to be this time.

I think I could achieve it with a lighter pack without the over-night gear and a bit more training. It’s still a big commitment to make that decision.

The hut is empty. I wash myself, eat, then sleep.

Day 2

It’s a white out and the wind has picked up. Not exactly what the forecast had promised but not unexpected either with it being the Tararua Ranges.

I leave the hut at 07:10 and am layered up.

I managed to lose the track once heading up over Tunui and have to turn back finding myself faced with a 100 meter vertical drop below my feet. It’s only a few meters off, but the poles are not easy to spot when it’s rough.

It’s not a day to admire the views and get great photos! In fact it feels very sinister. I have a moment where I feel like I’m being watched, there is a black figure ahead looming in the mist that I’d subconsciously noticed. I then see it’s just a large rock. It’s not the reaper, but it’s a good reminder to be careful.

Once I drop down below McIntosh I’m below the clouds and delayer.

The last climb up to Bridge peak felt slow, am I tired from yesterday? Probably.

I finally get to the highest point of the loop at 10:00 and i’m back on more familiar ground.

I’m happy that I have enough bounce left to run down the hill.

Field Hut

10:52 and I’m at Field hut. No need for Byrus to get a photo here for his Hut Bagging collection, as he’s been here many times before.

There is a group of 4 guys outside. We exchange tales for 10 minutes. They seem amazed that it was only 4 hours ago that I was at Maungahuka. It’s taken them 2 days. They joke that I’ll be out for lunch and indeed I am. I get back to Otaki Forks bridge at 11:57.

I then walk back over the Blue Bluff slip to warm down.

Route and Splits

Day 1

Otaki Forks 08:02

Slip 08:55

Other side of Slip 09:20 (Heaps of faffing!)

YTYY 11:38

Junction Knob 14:06

Nichols Hut 14:38

16:55 Left Track to visit Aokaparangi Biv

Aokaparangi Biv 17:06 (break and a snoop)

Back on trail 17:30

Maungahuka Hut 19:18

Total time: 13 hours 16 mins (inc extra 35 mins for Aokap)

Day 2

Maungahuka 07:10

Bridge Peak 10:00

Field Hut 10:52 (10 min break)

Otaki Forks 11:57

Total Time: 4 hours 47 mins