Janine is keen to knock off the classic Dundas loop and bag another 1500m peak (Logan). Mike and I round out the numbers.
We end up in two cars with Janine arriving at the Putara road end on a Thursday night (10 October) and setting off ahead of us. Mike and I finally rock up and get away at about 19.35 with head torches ready.
There's a young couple at the road end and they turn out to have the same plans as us - we get away a few minutes ahead of them.
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| The boys are rearing to go |
A short way past the bridge there is a bit of mess where a slip has bowled a few trees - it's a little tricky finding a way through in the dark and we exchange notes with the couple as they catch-up. After this there is one other minor excursion off track where we miss where the track turns up hill to avoid an old slip. After a bit of mucking about the couple turn up behind us and point out the error of our ways.
Although somewhat damp, the night is calm and we switch into grind mode for the 400m climb to the ridge. A stream is running down the track but it's easy to follow in the dark.
We regroup at the top and head right for Huapai along a boggy track. Mike experiences the joys of optimism bias when he reaches the horrible realisation that there is a short sharp 100m climb out of the saddle to the hut - he had been sure it was flat!
The couple are already at the hut along with Janine who is feeling the cold. We jump into pit quickly while we're still warm from walking.
The next morning is a cracker - we're only going as far as Dundas Hut so there is no hurry. The scrub is not too wet as we climb slowly with the views across the Tararua district expanding behind. We even get a good line of sight to Ruapehu before the cloud obscures it.
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| Looking across to Haukura Ridge |
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| Down the Ruamahanga |
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| Pointing for dramatic effect |
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| Putara farmland and places north east |
As we reach Ruapae there's a bit of clag coming and going - and it stays murky until we get to East Peak.
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| North from Ruapae - I think |
The saddle between East and West Peaks is another one of those places in the Tararuas that has a few near misses and not misses associated with it. South off the ridge is the headwaters of Chamberlain creek - not to be attempted without a rope and canyoning gear. There have been a few rescues around here with people running out of the necessary steam to deal with the elements and or losing the track. It's only about 200m down and up, but it's scrubby, easy to mislay the track, and coming in either direction there is still a lot of work to get anywhere out of the elements once passed the saddle.
We regroup just out off the saddle to keep everyone on course then again at the top for lunch.
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| West Peak to East Peak |
There's a good bail route off West Peak in the form of a spur running NNE into the Mangahao. I came up it once and found it navigable albeit scrubby. No idea what it is like now.
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| Spur down to the Mangahao |
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| Janine and the route from West Peak |
The other couple has leap frogged us and as we climb towards Pukemoreore we can see their figures working their way along the horizon. Although the clag has not come in close the cloud cover is keeping the temperature down and we're all well rugged up as we come over the ridge below Pukemoremore and get the first look down to Dundas Hut. I can see a couple of tiny figures on the spur above the hut.
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| East peak at right |
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Just below Pukemoremore looking south
Dundas Hut inline with my knee |
It's an easy scramble up to Pukemoremore then down into a saddle and up to the knob above the hut spur.
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| Final approach to Pukemoremore |
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| Dundas Hut |
I'm a little ahead of Janine and Mike and chill in the sun until they arrive. They both want to pop up Logan but I have my sights set on the hut and leave them to it. The cold has cleared again and they get good views across the Horowhenua.
With five in the hut it is convivial without being too crowded - we eventually work out the one degree of separation from the couple (a relation of hers has been on some of the same track working trips as me).
Another fantastic morning. The couple get away ahead of us and we don't anticipate seeing them again as they tend to move a bit faster than us. I've heard that a track team has been through some months back and I'm keen to see the results as it was a bit rough last time I came through.
From the hut the track drops steeply down the spur to a stream junction - this section has been scrubby and overgrown in the past. After that there is a sidle to the Ruamahanga River - this section crosses the steep lower slopes of a spur with loose rubble under foot. It's prone to tree fall, slippage and poor marking.
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| Back to Dundas |
The track down the spur is in a good state with the scrub cut well back from the track all the way down. I quite like the stream junction at the bottom - on a good day it's a wee sun trap - a good spot for a drink and a short break.
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| Janine hoping for dry feet |
The sidle section is better with the bush cleared back, although a few extra markers wouldn't go amiss. We drop down to the side of the Ruamahanga to see the couple across the river and about to embark on the climb to Cattle Ridge. We exchange greetings and decide to settle in for an early lunch.
It's a pretty spot - on a warmer day you might be tempted to swim in the pool. Today - not so much. Although sunny there's a nippy wind.
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| Mike showing how its's done without poles |
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| No more dry feet |
The track team have done a great job on the way up to Cattle ridge also. Once out of the bush there is a broad swathe of destruction through the scrub and no concerns about finding the track. Until you get to the rocky bits where the lack of markers mean you often end up just following your nose.
There's a firm and cool wind on top of the ridge so we don't wait around getting to the hut around 1540.
The hut is still in great condition after its refurb with the closed in porch a huge improvement. We decide given the lack of time pressures we'll call it a day and even manage to get a few things dry in the afternoon sun.
The couple have continued on to roaring stag so we are hopeful of having the hut to ourselves. A little later though a chap turns up so four of the five bunks end up being taken.
There is a fire box in the hut which I'm not quite so sure is a good idea given the lack of wood up here. Someone has cut green leatherwood and stashed it in the wood shed - the scrub won't last long if that keeps up.
The next morning is a bit overcast and it starts to drizzle as we head down the steep track to Roaring Stag. The worst keeps off though and we are crossing the bridge to the hut a little before 0930.
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| Morning on Cattle Ridge |
And that's pretty much it. We have a slow trip out and it starts raining. We stop briefly to pile some branches across the old track where we missed the way coming in. By daylight we can also see that there is a big slip on the true right of the river which may have pushed the river in closer to the left undercutting a section of track.
We cruise back to Masterton for a pub dinner and compare notes. Getting into Herepai Hut on the first night set the weekend up for a good rhythm with three easy days. The track work has certainly made a difference but it's a circuit that has to be respected as the weather can easily make for a very different experience.
