The intention for this weekend was a circuit from Kashmir Road end to Longview Hut and on to Howletts Hut for the evening, returning on Sunday via Daphne Hut. By the time we got to Longview we knew the wind wasn't going to allow this.
Friday night started with the Smith's coming over the hill and the four of us heading to Ormondville for a beaut night at the Railway Station which has been converted to a B&B by the local Rail Preservation Group. Well worth a stay if you're heading through these parts.
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| Ormondville Railway Station accommodation on Friday night |
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| A chilly but fine start to the day |
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| Kashmir Road |
It didn't take us long to get onto the tops and realise that the wind wouldn't allow us to complete our planned trip.
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| Blowing like a . . . |
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| Longview Hut - just off the east side of the ridge |
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| Tarn on the way to Rocky Knob |
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| Tops travel - south to the biodiversity track down to Top Gorge Hut |
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| Northerly |
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| Nav |
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| The biodiversity track through the leatherwood |
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| Ridge SE of Top Gorge Hut |
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| Nicholas and Nicola |
We made it down to Top Gorge Hut early enough to enjoy the late afternoon in the sun.
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| Top Gorge Hut |
Some of us well relaxed!
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| Afternoon recovery |
Missy has a special affection for the German dog.
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| Admiration |
Nick spent quite some time getting a fire going for us which was well appreciated - until it was going. The hut chimney proved to be a shocker with, I'm sure, no smoke choosing that route, instead filling the hut. We spent the evening opening and closing the door. A bucket of water may have been a better option!
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| Mr Smith's long effort achieved little but smoke into the hut! |
Our return route had us heading up the Pohangina River until west of Longview Hut where we hoped to find an easy climb onto the ridge. The river was very easy travel, and never much deeper than the knee.
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| An early-ish start |
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| River travel |
It was great to see a pair of whio (blue duck) in the river.
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| Whio in the Pohangina River |
A sign in Top Gorge Hut put us in touch with the Ruahine Whio Protectors - unpaid volunteers who manage up to 2,500 DOC 200 traps in the Ruahine Range.
It is estimated that there are around 3,000 whio in existence making then rarer than kiwi.
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| Happy team |
The small waterfall is passed on the true left.
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| Small waterfall to climb around near the top of the river |
Climbing out of the river, to the ridge top, only took around 15 minutes.
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| Climb out of the river west of Longview Hut |
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| Our weekend route |
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