With an unexpected week off work I found out a friend also had the week off. We headed in to the Tararuas on a Wednesday planning to leave on Friday, before the crowds of the weekend.
We set off to Alpha Hut stopping at various points along Marchant Ridge to take in the views. The weather was great and we had stunning views of the Hutt Valley and the peaks further north.
After a day of straight up we arrived at the hut in just over 6 hours – the benefit of a small group! We were the only ones at Alpha Hut, which is large, so it was cold. After flicking through all the magazines and reading material in the hut and dinner we turned in for an early night.
Day two we rose early and left most of our gear behind to head up to Mount Alpha. It was snowing and we had a lot less visibility than the day before. After crossing a few mounds and being sure one of them was Alpha we checked a GPS to confirm. We had gone too far so headed back to the hut, round trip about 1.5 hours.
We collected the rest of our gear from Alpha Hut and headed back the way we came the day before till we came to the Bull Mound turn off. We had been in goblin forest for a long time and to our surprise emerged to alpine grasslands and stunning wide spanning views. Whenever I return to Alpha now I will ensure I take a small detour to barren Bull Mound for the views.
We carried on down, entering forest again. It was rather steep, and I couldn’t help thinking I’d rather go down than up, although some may disagree! Eventually we arrived at a river that we needed to cross. After observing the river and assessing all options we crossed and not long after came to Cone Hut.
We arrived really early (around lunchtime) but decided to stay at historic Cone Hut as neither of us had before. All I can say is tie your food bag tight and store out of your pack, and keep a head torch handy to scare away the rats! It was a cosy, pleasant hut to stay in.
The last day of our journey we headed out along Tauherenikau River. We stopped in briefly at Tutuwai Hut and Smith’s Creek Shelter. After the shelter we encountered our first person since entering the bush.
Although a hot day the clay on the Puffer Saddle was very slippery (it had rained in the afternoon of the day prior) and we heard the sound of chainsaws as some DOC workers were doing track maintenance. After encountering our second and third person we arrived at the carpark to find a group of teens setting off for Holdsworth as part of the Duke of Ed.
Overall an excellent, leisurely 3 day trip which could be done in 2 long days. This trip highlighted to me how few people tramp midweek. Of the 3 huts we stopped at there had been no hut book entries since the weekend prior.
Note: trip took place late Septmber 2018
Logistics
Park at Kiwi Ranch Road
Day 1 walk to Alpha Hut, 6 hours (expect 7-9 hours with a larger group).
Day 2 walk to Cone Hut via Bull Mound, 3 hours
Day 3 Walk back to carpark along the lower part of Dobsons Loop and Puffer Saddle 4 hours.
Wellington Tramping Group 