Te Matawai Again 29-31/07/2011

A Friday drive to Poads road and walk in to Te Matawai hut with a work mate. Another great weekend in the Tararua's with a weather forecast predicting a Saturday southerly.

Friday 29/07/2011
The weather was perfect for spotting wetas, millipedes, and big fat green slugs. We headed off from Poads Road at 1440.  At 1558 we where at the Gable End turnoff and from there on the pace was going down as we got to the junction at 1918 a 3 hour uphill plug. By 2025 we where in Weta country.

And there where a few more before we got to the hut.

Millipede.

The big fat green slug hanging out on the Otaki sign.

New Zealand Land Slugs — Part I
New Zealand Land Slugs Part II
Soilbugs Massey NZ

And from here its a ten to fifteen minute walk to Te Matawai hut; we arrived at nine thirty three, which made that one hell of a slow trip at almost seven hours.

Saturday 30/07/2011
A wander up to Arete and back for Saturday afternoon, as the forecast Southerly, rain and cloud did not eventuate. It was rather cold wandering up the ridge to the top of Arete.

The view of Bannister from Arete was grey and cold.

And Mitre has a nice profile from this angle.

An evening of nourishment, potatoes, mushrooms, whisky, and a beer. Note that Carl!

Sunday 31/07/2011
After a sleeping a walk back to Poads road with such awesome weather.