This article was first published in the Tararua Tramper Volume 89, no 1, February 2017
Three Tararua Trampers Tackle Tough Tauherenikau Terrain, Marchant-Boulder Stream spur-Puffer F
Wed 23 November 2016
Three members left the DOC car park near Camp Kaitoke at 8.00am and climbed steadily towards Dobsons in sunny and breezy weather. Despite November having been a very wet month, the usually slippery clay sections of the track provided good footing. We continued up past Dobsons and stopped for morning tea a short distance before Pt 967.
After reaching the goblin forest on Marchant we continued for about 20 minutes before turning off track and heading down the spur to the south of Boulder Stream. At this stage the group was making good time, but the descent to the Tauherenikau River was quite slow. This was due to a combination of steep terrain that required zigzagging and the need for frequent stops to check position to ensure that we avoided being lured into Boulder Stream to the north or the tributaries of the Marchant Stream to the south.
A lunch stop was taken near Pt 586, where the vegetation was more open and the area quite flat. After lunch we descended to the south east, emerging on the track about 10 minutes up river from the bridge. From here, it was a long but straightforward trip past Smith Creek Shelter, over Puffer Saddle and back to the car park, which was reached at 4.43 pm.
Total distance travelled was 21.8 km, trip time 8 hours 43 minutes and estimated total climb 1200 m.
- Party members
- Tony Black, Bob Stephens, Warwick Wright (Leader and scribe)