Guy, Harriot and Zara arrived from Wellington fairly late so we were quick to depart from Mt Holdsworth carpark, arriving at Jumbo Hut around 2315.
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| A moody Wairarapa morning |
We had a fairly long day planned, either JACS Biv or Mid Waiohine Hut, so an early start was the order of the day.
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| Still all smiles |
Looking to the NE the day looked not to bad. To the west there was a little rain to come.
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| McGregor (left) and Broken Axe Pinnacles (centre) |
We soon topped Angle Knob, popped around teh side of Shingle Slip Knob and started the descent toward point 1,145 and further to the Waiohine River.
The going above the bush-line is fairly easy, if steep in the odd part.
Into the mist near Shingle Slip Knob.
It ended up taking a good few hours to get over from Jumbo and down into the bush proper - and away from the wind.
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| Lunch stop once out of the wind and cold |
Finally at the river by mid-afternoon and by our reckoning not to far from from JACS Biv.
JACS Biv was flown in to its present location on 24 June 1998. It was either the old Renata Forks Bivy or the Cow Creek Bivy, and personal present were Joe Hanson (DoC Ranger), Andy Guddup (crewman), Tim Crum (local cop known as Crummie) and Duncan Sutherland (helicopter pilot) hence the name JACS Bivy. It was put in for goat control.
The bivy was probably built by Noel Frazer, Chris Main or Paul Gush in the 1960's for the NZFS.
[History from Joe Hanson via John Rhodes (Tararua Guru)].
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| JACS Bivy |
The girls made the decision that we should push on toward Mid Waiohine Hut in order to avoid the gorge swim tomorrow morning. A wise decision.
The river going is generally easy, but we're not at the gorge yet - a worry of mine for a team of four tired trampers late in the day!
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| Waiohine breather |
Numerous crossings were required, mostly only waist deep though.
The gorge was soon past and the next 2.5km to the hut didn't take long at all.
Unfortunately goats are a real menace in the Waiohine. DoC appears to have let things go, with 20 counted (and one killed) between JACS and the hut.
Finally the evenings rest stop, Mid Waiohine Hut.
We shared the hut with two mad keen fisherman from Norway - regulars to NZ and particularly the Tararua's. They had grand plans - pack raft through the gorge (upstream) and to Carkeek over a couple of days, fishing their way to Carkeek before traversing right back around to Wairarapa.
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| Mid Waiohine with a fresh new colour thanks to a passionate group of ex NZFS cullers |
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| Nearing Isabelle |
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| Shingle Slip plane (emergency shelter!) just visible 60m below the ridge |
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| Holdsworth summit - almost home |
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| We bypassed the new Powell Hut |
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| Our route |
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