This article was first published in the Tararua Tramper in November 1998
Kaitoke - Smith's Creek - Bump 714m - Bump 805m - Kaitoke
Saturday 4 July 1998
To make this trip possible Michael Bartlett and I had previously made two separate recces of the spurs in question east of Smith's Creek.
On the day (4 July) after more than 100mm of rain within 36 hours, we expected Smith's Creek to be up a bit and it was, but easy to cross singly, about map reference 005137.
A cool, early morning saw the seven of us warming by climbing 454m/1470ft up an open spur to bump 714m. This ridge point is also a route junction from the Tauherenikau River (to the north) and the track from the Pylon Road (to the south).
A steady hour tramping south (with west views from clearings) brought us to the road. Several minutes on this metal before a scramble for the upper spur down from bump 805m. An attractive belt of forest before a NW direction change into semi-open scrub. We had lunch here in warm, sunny conditions, observing snow on the distant Mt Holdsworth and Neill-Winchcombe Ridge.
Back into forest prior to another short scrub belt. Then pleasant, high-level forest travel or nearly half an hour.
A long old fire-damaged belt of scrub continued, with our progress slower. Back into forest past a ruined, former plantation before crossing the south-east arm of Smith's Creek. Then across to the main track out to Kaitoke.
The whole trip took only 6 hours in total. Thanks to Michael and Yvonne for help in leading.
Party members were: Michael Bartlett, Yvonne Ashworth, Dave Dyett, Ken Fraser, Dave Reynolds, Tim Stone and Peter Jagger (leader and scribe).