Andrew & Nic's Adventures: Cattle Ridge, Tararua FP, July 2020

Finally after weeks of wet and miserable weather a fine weekend was forecast. With this forecast we'd be silly not to poke our heads above the bush-line and as none of us had inspected the February 2020 refurbishment of Cattle Ridge Hut in the northern Tararua Forest Park this was our mission.

Cattle Ridge Hut

The team.

Nicholas, Nic & Missy

The us was, Nic and I, Nicholas and Missy Smith and our six-month old hound Charlie. We needed a short walk as Charlie is still getting her tramping legs. Cattle Ridge fitted the bill perfectly.

Hoping to beat the crowds to four of the five beds we left the Putara Road end at 0800hrs, quickly crossing the Mangatainoka River bridge to river-left. Nic and I have been into Roaring Stag many times and up to Cattle Ridge together a couple of times so the track is well know to us.

The carpark is at around 340m - the first 40 minutes or so along the Mangatainoka only improves the altitude to 400m so is easy going and a nice warm-up. The bush was drenched - no surprise, and the river was fresh.

Crossing the stream that leads to Ruapae Falls (which is not Ruapae Stream, that is in the catchment to the west) the gradient changes quickly as we head up a spur and climb for an hour, gaining 370m over 1km.

Other than huffing and puffing, with Nicholas the conversation turns to the state of the nation, politics, economics and world peace. Missy has a firm view on it all. I love our trips with these two, but feel well out of my depth!

Once on the ridge track we turn south toward Roaring Stag Hut, dropping back down to 420m over the next 2 hours and 4km. The ridge track drops gradually through nice bush, with occasional views to the peaks to the west.

I have a couple of koura traps that I'd like to try in this unnamed stream just before Roaring Stag hut. Next time.

A shout out to hut builder James Coubrough - well done mate, it's still standing and in good nick. A few cabbage trees have been cleared since our last trip - an exercise in getting more sun onto the hut we think; that or a bit more clearance at the helicopter landing pad maybe.

Charlie was pretty excited to find one of her own, well almost - it was a smooth, pure Hungarian, no German twist. Nonetheless an hour was spent hooning around like Vizsla's do.

After our usual tramping fare, crackers, cheese, salami and a mandarin lunch in the sun, by 1230 hrs we were crossing the Ruamahanga River on the short but steep climb to Cattle ridge.

Nicholas Smith - economist, philosopher, mountain man.

Found this snow fungus on the hill. It's found on dead branches of broadleaf trees and is grown commercially in Asia where it is traditionally used in sweet dishes. Whilst tasteless it is valued for its gelatinous texture as well as its supposed medicinal benefits. We didn't try it.

Snow fungus (Tremella fuciformis)

Over about 1.6km we climbed from around 420m to 1,120m.

Fairly soon we were looking back down on Roaring Stag Hut.

And at around 1,000m things started to get a little chilly but with no wind at all and sun we were enjoying a very rare Tararua winter tops trip.

The hut comes into sight after 1hr 45min.

Finally we make the hut - just a smidgen over 2 hrs.

Three young and fit girls arrived in the early evening on a mission trip from Roaring Stag, and return, as they'd heard of our group of four already in the five bunk hut. A little later we were joined by two chaps from Levin who had made Herepai on Friday night and then spent Saturday traversing to Dundas Hut, down to the Ruamahunga and up over Cattle Ridge - a great July mission.

The great thing about long winter evenings in huts is the planning of future trips. Cattle Ridge allowed us to confirmed plans for a Dusky Track adventure in early 2021. This all happened as we enjoyed an Escarpment Pinot Noir plus another, with the benefit of Nicholas and Missy having introduced us to 750ml plastic bladders. No more glass!

We also had a very tired and cuddly 6 month old to attend to.

Superb Sunday morning views over Wairarapa.

An 0830 departure after a late rise, breakfast and hut clean - the crisp snow underfoot was my excuse! in any case it was going to be a fairly easy day back down to Roaring Stag and out to Putara road end.