This article was first published in the Tararua Tramper Volume 93, no 3, April 2021
Holdsworth Loop with Night at Jumbo
20-21 February 2021
Helena drove Leonore and Susana to Holdsworth Lodge where we met up with Diane on Saturday, 20th February. We started walking at 10.20 a.m. and had lunch at Atiwhakatu Hut. Walking up to Jumbo Hut, we met Sarah White’s party coming down from their one-day, clockwise loop walk. At 3 p.m. we were all at Jumbo Hut, which was full, occupants including a group of 12-year-old Scouts who filled the hut with high energy. Beautiful clear views, warm air and no wind! The night was restless for some, but there were no snorers. The wind, a nor’wester, started to build up throughout the night.
On Sunday we watched the sun rise while having breakfast and at 7.45 a.m. climbed up to Jumbo, battling the nor’wester. The wind did not stop us and we followed the ridge track towards Mt. Holdsworth. We had some respite from the wind and gusts next to a tarn, avoiding yellow speargrass (Spaniard). Still plenty of edelweiss, white gentians, eyebrights lining the path. Clear views as far as Mt Taranaki! We arrived at Holdsworth at the same time as the Scout party, 10.30 a.m., and descended to Powell Hut where we had a long lunch break, enjoying having the newly-refurbished hut all to ourselves. We followed the many steps down, grateful for being out of the wind, the heat increasing as we dropped down the 800 m in altitude and arrived back at the car park at 3 p.m. A dip in the Atiwhakatu river was enjoyed and refreshed us all. We drove back in two cars, with an ice cream/tea/coffee stop in Featherston.
Total distance 24 km, starting at about 300 m above sea level, and the highest point, Mt Holdsworth, at 1,470 m above sea level. (LH)
- Party members
- Susana Guzman (non-member), Diane Morgan, Leonore Hoke (leader and scribe) and Helena Weller-Chew.