This article was first published in the Tararua Tramper Volume 86, no 10, November 2013
Waiohine 818 from the east
1st October 2014
Wednesday trampers occasionally visit Waiohine 818, an insignificant bump on the eastern ridge of the lower Waiohine Valley and far from the wild territory and peaks of the upper Waiohine.
This time we approached from the east, driving to the end of Mangaterere Valley Road. The ford, like the writer, seemed to have aged and decayed since the last visit. From the road end we walked 400 m north along the four wheel drive track to the start of the DoC track (also known as the SAR Track) over to Sayers Hut. But instead of ascending the spur we followed the west branch of the Mangaterere River a short distance before swinging south and following easy leads through regenerating bush, finally arriving at Bump 667. An animal trail led west into a shallow saddle where we swung south again and sidled across a face to arrive on the Kaipaitangata/Mangaterere watershed ridge, once travelled by Sayer's cattle on their journeys to and from Totara Flats. Next, down the ridge a short distance before finally swinging west towards our target bump. It was a comfortable descent into the Kaipaitangata Stream, although we hit the stream bed just a few metres upstream from a significant waterfall.
The Kaipaitangata Valley is Carterton's water catchment. The lower reaches are off limits and have been subject to extensive forestry operations. In contrast the upper reaches are pristine.
From the stream bed we climbed about 550 vertical metres to emerge in sun on Waiohine 818's rocky outcrop (perhaps 40 m north of the actual bump which, shame to say, we didn't visit). A panorama of snowy tops: Holdsworth, Mitre, Crawford ... and far south to Hector. Continuing north along the ridge to regain the DoC track, we detoured east for a ten minute tea break on Bump 810 where the panorama was repeated.
Just under eight hours to go around.
- Party members
- Joan Basher, Ian Cassels, Robin Chesterfield, Colin Cook (leader and scribe), Anne Opie, David Ogilvie, Bob Stephens, Bill Wheeler, Lynne White