A trip aiming to cross Bannister from Waingawa to Arete ended up into a wander over Cattle Ridge down to Roaring Stag and some wandering in the Ruamahunga river. Paul and I headed off Friday afternoon with what seemed the perfect weather. We walked up Waingawa Saturday morning and when the full force of the wind hit us we changed our Bannister walk into a Cattle Ridge walk.
Sunday's gorge travel added another four hours onto our day as we didnt notice we where heading East for a couple of hours, walked right past Cleft creek. Such enjoyable rock hopping river wading.
Friday 14/01/2011
1920 Left the car at Kiriwhakapapa Road end and started walking to either Cow Creek hut or bivvy site up Waingawa..
2023 Blue Range turnoff.
2121 Waingawa River turn off, and Cow Creek it is, felt it was too dark to go down track not maintained to Cow Saddle.
2221 Bridge to Cow Creek.
2224 Cow Creek hut.
Saturday 15/01/2011
Another picture of Cow Creek hut.
0736 Headed across the Waingawa river looking to head up the old ridge track, gave up on it and headed East to join up with the Cow Saddle track.
0826 Cow Saddle.
0917 Into the open, waiting for the other one. Flowers are looking good.
1058 On the top below Waingawa and the wind is getting up.
1243 Cattle Ridge hut and stopped for snacks, finally out of the wind.
1319 Off down to Roaring Stag Lodge.
1405 At Roaring Stag, waiting for him again.
1525 Down the Ruamahunga looking for a sheltered bivvy spot, as there are gusts of wind that put waves on the river.
1639 Got ourselves a good bivvy site for the night. Time for a swim in the deep pool and after our evening meal we settled back and consumed the Elijah Craig 12yo bourbon. Both deciding that a good single malt from Scotland is superior.
Sunday 16/01/2011
The big day for us due to not noticing that we wandered past Cleft creek. two hours of cruising down the river in the sun enjoying the walk and then realisation that we where going East and not South...
Seemed to be rain coming so we packed up quickly and headed off.
0844 Off down the river.
0927 Wandered past Cleft creek had lost the plot with South and East becoming meaningless noise.
1139 Realised we where wandering down the Ruamahunga river and that all we needed to do was get up on the bank and head North along the track.
1147 Now on the track, missing the river.
1303 Roaring stag hut sign.
As we wandered into a creek bed saw a pinkish looking weta hop away under a log. Went and took a few photos as its not a sort Ive seen before in the Tararuas.
1427 At the slip and on the way up to the saddle.
1444 Cow Saddle.
1557 Waingawa River sign.
1704 Blue Range hut turnoff.
1754 Back at the car, waiting for him.
Map of our Wanderings
Cleaning Up
No density to remove.
