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This article was first published in the Tararua Tramper Volume 81, no 9, October 2009

‘Fathers Tramp’ to the Eastern Ruahines

18-20 September 2009

A trip on the Eastern Ruahines tops in variable weather. A ‘Fathers Tramp’, organised by the Family Group, saw three dads and one ‘maybe one day’ kind of bloke, drive up to Triplex Hut, late Friday night, much to the spleen of one grumpy farmer. (DOC – you’ve got some housekeeping to do.) We woke to (forecasted) rain on the Saturday and had an ‘easy grade’, pleasant tramp up to Sunrise Hut. Before we arrived, it had begun snowing (not forecasted!). After a brew-up at Sunrise and a consultation with some other experienced trampers, we continued to Armstrong Saddle and would decide there whether to continue on to Waikamaka Hut.

Although cloud was low, the forecasted ‘westerly gales’ didn’t eventuate and we decided to press on via Te Atuaoparapara (1687 m). Navigation was needed on this route towards Waipawa Saddle, and we practised some ‘off route’ travel over ridge, scree and snow (old and fresh) with leatherwood and bush bashing. We found ourselves well exercised during this late winter, alpine conditions, ‘medium- fit’ tramp to Waikamaka Hut!

We had a cosy night on Saturday, before a potbelly called ‘Fatso’ (thanks Nick) in a great wee hut situated on the convergence of two streams.

Long wave (albeit intermittent) reception ensured that the activities of 30 overpaid, and over-hyped young men, running after an odd shaped ball at the ‘Cake Tin’, didn’t pass unnoticed. However, we were all asleep before the game was over. As fathers, our emotional barometers are more dependent upon a good night’s sleep than the highs and lows of the All Blacks. (But that said… for those doubting Nick’s, Scott’s and Peter’s…Tom was on the money, OK?! 33-6).

Sunday morning we awoke to a light layer of fresh snow and, after warming up around Fatso, we set off up the icy stream to the Waipawa Saddle, a couple of hundred metres above us. We then crisscrossed over the beautiful Waipawa stream and back to North Block Road end to complete the loop under clear blue skies.

This was a really good tramp through a variety of rural (lambing time) country and then beautiful boreal, alpine and riverene environments. ‘The Ruahines Rock!’ (and erode!). For several of the dads, this weekend was their first childless tramp for… quite a while. All of us are AIC graduates and this, and our fitness, experience and kit proved to be up to spec. That said, any future Ruahine ‘above-bushline’ tramps, at this time of year, would see us taking ice axes - providing an increased margin of confidence and safety.

We wish the up coming ‘Mums’ Tramp’, success, and hope they have (at least!) half as good a time as we did. Can they top the gourmet Ruahine Cheese Cake?

And apropos nothing at all…just remember… ‘To err is human, to arrghh is pirate’.

Party members: Nick Crang, Scott Miller, Peter Thompson, Tom White (scribe)
Category: Weekend Ruahines Hawkes Bay