This article was first published in the Tararua Tramper Volume 80 No. 4, May 2008
Ruahines - camping
Easter 2008
Friday lunch was at Colenso trig after an early start from from the Mangaweka campground. The evidence of drought was evident with Rangitikei farmland below without grass and brown to the horizon. Fortunately there was plenty of water in the tarns as we moved south through the tussock along the Mokai Patea range. As it was perfect camping weather, we opted to camp by a large tarn towards the southern end of the range.
At sunrise on Saturday the lower country was full of cloud but our camp site and the surrounding peaks basked in the sun. We descended the spur to Wakelings Hut - obviously occupied by hunters helicoptered in for the duration by the amount of gear in the hut. We continued to Maropea Forks with excellent riverside camping and dinner cooked by camp fire. Sunday was a warm but short tramping day, arriving at Otukota Hut site early in the afternoon in time for a dip in an inviting pool. The place was busy, but again camping was excellent after excavation of a large rock.
The route south on Monday was up Berts Ridge, which was steep to start as usual , but soon gave way to the tussock tops and a gentle climb back to Colenso trig, where we again had lunch before descending to the cars, dusty roads and the SH1 traffic queue. The trip will be remembered for the warm weather, dry tents, crispy leaf covered tracks and the views of the previous day’s route.
- Party members
- Ann Garnham, Lyn Taylor, Pip Newton, Jeanne Corbett and Robin Chesterfield (scribe and leader)