Waitatapia

If you look east from Otaki forks, across the terraces towards the track into Waitewaewae hut, you will probably pay no attention to the scrubby and thoroughly unremarkable ridge behind. Waitatapia, at 862m, is not the highest but is the only named point on the ridge. It doesn't exactly tower over the landscape but it is an intriguing island - surrounded by the Otaki river, the Waitatapia stream and Plateau stream. It doesn't connect to any major ridge system so isn't really on the way to anywhere. But there is the odd trip report on the internet which indicates that people do sometimes visit.

This weekend the weather looks like it will make the proposition a little more challenging with snow forecast down to 300m. The plan is to commute over the ridge to Plateau and head on to explore a couple of other locations, but in the end I cut the trip back to a day.

What:   Day nav trip
Where: Waitatapia (Pt 862)
Why:    Just  happened to notice it
Who:    Solo
When:  29 July 2017
Map:     Link

The start is not particularly auspicious. I've pottered across the wide terrace and just got to the edge above the Otaki River swing bridge when I remember the compass is still in the car. A helpful DOC sign informs me that it's 1.4 km to the car park - making a 2.8 km wasted round trip during which I can curse my mental lassitude.

The air is still but cold and the clouds are low around the hills - not so low though that they hide the snow powdered bush around 4-500m.

Waitatapia Ridge

Across the Otaki river the track zigzags up to the opposite terrace and I immediately start looking on my right for a way into the bush. A trail of sorts heads around the slope above the Otaki River and I figure it is a good place to start - it looks like there might be better bush that way. I don't notice any marking and eventually leave it to follow a promising looking trail heading up. It's a steep scramble through bracken and soon degenerates into animal trails but there always seems to be a route through.

There are plenty of chances to look back across the flats and down to the tiny swing bridge. Where possible, I work further south along the slope and eventually end up in reasonably open bush with a high canopy - periodically breaking into clearings.

Otaki River flowing to meet the Waiotauru River at the forks
Waitatapia Stream joins from the right

After a large grassy clearing on a knob, a spur takes shape and there's a bit of a foot trail. There are one or two old green plastic tape markers but soon these are invisible as the snow gets thicker under the canopy.  Occasionally there is a gap to peer out through the snow clad bush.

Otaki forks but smaller

Looking up from the grassy knob

View down the Otaki River towards the coast

The wet foliage on the way up means my boots are well on the way to being water logged by the time I'm walking in snow.  Perfect for cold feet. Snow periodically drifts down through the trees but the wind is mercifully light.

It's roughly three hours from setting out when a metal post in the snow indicates the top of Waitatapia. It's slowish going but reasonably straight forward so far. The snow makes it a little interesting trying to follow trails but with the aid of a stick I'm managing to shed most of the snow off the surrounding foliage before it dumps on me.

Waitatapia

Waitatapia and cold feet

There's a few tricky moments trying to stick to the ridge as it curves into the saddle above Gorge Creek. However the clouds clear momentarily to show glimpses of a monochrome landscape and the foothills of the main range - enough to orient and keep on track.

Approaching pt 876 I manage to drift off the ridge but twig when it starts dropping steeply. Shortly after, the ridge veers gently right to another high point and I have to back track again when a compass check reveals I've overshot my spur down.  The snow is masking some of the signs you usually pick up.

It takes a little while for the spur to form but after a while it becomes well defined and the snow starts thinning. Large dark holes in the white blanket covering the ferns indicates that water is dripping from above.

The air warms and although the trail comes and goes it's an easy trip north and down towards the plateau. Soon, there is a familiar looking swamp and sure enough, an orange triangle soon after as my spur finally coincides with the Waitewaewae track.

It's a little before 2pm and later than I had been anticipating getting to this point so the next part of my plans are no longer a goer - the prospect of walking the track to Waitewaewae hut and back the next day doesn't appeal so I make the call to pull the plug and head back to the car.

Heading back out along the track is pleasant going, more so as I start to thaw and dry. The weather has improved and the sun breaks through - it's a completely different day.

Looking up Waitatapia Stream, Waitatapia Ridge on right,
plateau behind the notch on the horizon

Waitatapia - a different proposition without the snow

It's uneventful and seeing as there is plenty of day light left I decide to drop in on Parawai hut. It's less than 300m off the main track and only minutes from the carpark, but I have never quite got around to dropping in.  There's a large family group having a BBQ with the fire going so I stay long enough to note that it is in surprisingly good nick for being so close to a road end.

Parawai Hut

Postscript

Although it was a somewhat truncated trip, I was pretty tired the next day. It shows how being cold and wet can take it out of you.  I would have made Waitewaewae hut easily and out the next day, but the extra day just lost all appeal when there was no longer time to head on to some more interesting territory.  Happy to have got up Waitatapia and there were some interesting perspectives on the Otaki flats on the way up - all up though, it is one of those spots that you feel that having been there once there is no particular rush to do it again.