32. Lake Dive – Waiaua Gorge (AMC 2)

Tuesday, March 12: Clear skies overnight with mixed cloud returning during the day

Tramping: 9.3 km

Waiaua Gorge Hut (Doc, $15)

Venus was very low as the morning star, and the sunrise was almost photographable. When I had my stuff together I took off for the lake to take photos of the reflections of Fantham’s Peak. Quite a day for photos today – at least while I was walking – as the sun shone through a little.

Took the climb at a very measured pace (was still sweating) and was surprised to be at the turnoff after just an hour. A ten-minute break was necessary here before I took off around the mountain. Fairly easy to begin with, then the ravines became more and more daunting and difficult to cross. Got some good photos anyway. This took a good two hours, and the final part was around the base of some basaltic flutes, just like Madeira, but somewhat drier. The track, however, was shot to bits, and care was required. After a while I could see where the route went down a ridge and decided on lunch in the sun on the ridge at just after 12:00.

Slide Show

I now thought I would make the next hut by 2:00 (which I did) and if Holly Hut was given as less than five hours I would continue on, as the track would be afternoon dry (and not morning dew wet, and possibly wetter if rain is on the program tomorrow). There was no track down to Brames Falls, so all I could catch were a couple of distant shots before the alternative (low) track – Taungatara – rejoined. From now on everything seemed fine, with ferns obviously zappered and orange triangles everywhere. Then there was a descent to the valley floor and across the unbridged stream. No alternative to getting the boots full of water, at least in this case I didn’t fall in.

Then “The Ladder”, quite a feat of engineering. The hut was now just around the corner. And it does have a green roof, so I had been able to see it from the lunchtime saddle. However, Holly Hut was signed as nine hours, so that was out of the question.

Interactive Map

Once here, wet boots and sox were stripped off, the sox washed with ordinary soap, as well as the feet, which were then put into fresh sox. Trousers were dried on me. Some wood was transferred from one of the Russian suitcases to the wood store under the deck to allow them to dry. (Three of these with what appears to be a delivery date of March, 2018, and each with about a tonne of firewood are lying outside exposed to the elements.) Then the floor was swept, half a table and a workspace were cleared for use – curious thing here is that the internal sinks have no water supply – only the two external ones. Wood was prepared with the splitter for tonight’s fire, and I may well sleep in the kitchen again.

Gigantic bunkrooms here – must be at least for 16 people each. Mountain doesn’t look like it’ll put on a show. Tried breaking up a very used soap bar to clean the billy and bowl with. Worked OK. About the only thing people have left here was some salt I gratefully filled up my salt shaker with.

Set the declination on the compass and the positions map nicely: 48° to the Sisters and 65° to Fantham’s Peak.