This article was first published in the Tararua Tramper Volume 90, no 2, March 2018
South Mangaone Pukeatea Track, Medium
Saturday, Dec. 16th 2017
Starting from the South Mangaone road end we followed the Pukeatea Track to an elevation of 500 metres. From here we descended a spur on a roughly westerly bearing, dropping some 200 metres into a stream. This route (see arrow) has been recently navigated by Bill Allcock and is a route used by the late Peter Jagger when he was very active leading adventurous Saturday MF day trips. Both Bill and myself were regulars on such trips. I recall Peter often used to come up this route but seldom if ever went down it. Descending the spur requires alert navigation skills and there are some quite steep sections. The run-out into the stream is rather gentle and is signalled by a ‘Jagger’ marker. The other side of the stream in contrast is easy going, rising some 50 metres to a low saddle. It had been our intention to carry on south to Bump 755 on the Kapakapanui Track, join the Henderson trail at Bump 890 and so return to the South Mangone Road end. Circumstances however determined that we return to the road end by a shorter route.
- Party members
- Bill Allcock, Tricia French, Bernard Molloy, Dave Reynolds (leader and scribe), Tim Stone, Cathy Wylie