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This article was first published in the Tararua Tramper Volume 80 No. 3, April 2008 Tarn RidgeWellington Anniversary weekend 2008The party members met up at Blue Range Hut in the late evening as some had departed Wellington earlier in the day. A pleasant evening walk on a warm summer evening. An early start in the morning with first stop at Cow Creek for scroggin and then on up to Table Ridge. The route was straightforward with little regrowth on the old track, which is no longer shown on maps. The afternoon was spent travelling along Table Ridge and over Brockett with frequent stops to enjoy the views. The wind was picking up later in the afternoon, and fortunately Gridlestone provided some shelter from the increasing southeasterly wind. The night at Tarn Ridge was interrupted by frequent blasts shaking the hut and reports of disturbed sleep. By morning the wind remained strong and none of the party showed much interest in heading north over the Pinnacles. Instead we headed up to the old Tarn Ridge Hut site and down the spur to the Waingawa river with a short leatherwood bash on the last section into the forest tongue. The Waingawa water level was low with easy dry feet travel down river for lunch and a brew up at Arete Forks Hut. In the afternoon we took the sidle track to Cow Creek, regretting not opting for the easier river gorge travel as the weather warmed up. Sitting on the outside bench in the still evening, bats were sighted and again the following morning across the river. Monday was more leisurely with a the lunch stop at the Blue Range rocky lookout, where we viewed and chatted about the trip route, and members recalled experiences on all the visible peaks. Finally, a hot walk down to Kirwhakapapa and the homeward journey, with Wairarapa temperatures exceeding 30C.
Category: Long Weekend Tararua
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