This article was first published in Tararua Tramper, June 2025, p.8.
Lake Sumner
4-10 April 2025
Plan A was a serious circuit in the Raglan Range involving Lees Creek, Misery Stream and Hellfire Stream and two range crossings. The ‘river of rain’ forecast suggested it was not a good idea and two people pulled out. We next considered the Rainbow Road but realised that hut-visiting involved several crossings of the Rainbow River that are tricky after rain and there was the possibility that the car might have got stuck between fords on the road. So we decided to head east and one more person declined to come.
The remaining three unadventurous trampers settled on a very safe, easy loop in the Hurunui, ticking off Gabriel, Jollie Brook and Cold Stream Huts. We were looking forward to a carefree jaunt with no weather worries. When the rain forecast faded to a day of drizzle, we gleefully expanded the trip to create a figure 8 circuit up the side of Lake Sumner and through Three Mile Stream. Things were looking up.
It was an easy walk to Gabriel Hut and the next day we headed up the side of Lake Sumner. The lake level was quite high and there was an occasional scramble over greasy rocks and windfall. All was going well until we missed the turnoff to Lake Marion, and bush bashing our way onto the track Chris gave his knee a vicious twist and became somewhat disabled. He struggled on to Hope Kiwi Hut and we reconsidered our plans AGAIN.
The upshot was that we took a shortcut to Hurunui Hut, sat out a day of drizzle and then did the long 20 km march down the road to the Lake Taylor car park. But our car was not there, it was down at the Jollie Brook swingbridge, another 10 km of winding, hilly road. Chris’s knee had somewhat recovered but not enough to do this last stretch after 20 km. As Tim set off with a water bottle and food to collect the car a huge stock truck with trailer pulled out from The Lakes station. The driver responded positively to Tim’s thumb and to our immense relief Chris and I saw Tim climb into the cab and away he went. When the driver dropped Tim off at the car, he said ‘that would have been an awful walk’. Tim agreed.
Peggy (scribe) and Chris Munn, Tim McGuinness