Bannister Circuit from Kiriwhakapa

Solo weekend tramp doing the Bannister loop from Kiriwhakapap Road end. Whisky is a 16 year old Mortlach. A dram that dosn't need the winter cold or a fire going.

Mortlach

Friday 22/11/2013
Left Wellington after food tea and packing my pack. Slow drive over the Rimataka's and got to the road end after ten pm. Headed off in the dark to Cow Creek, scared a deer bout ten minutes from the car park. Was an interesting walk in as there where plenty of snails and weird flat red worms out.

Flat red thing?

Got to Cow Creek hut after one am, so really this bit of walk finished Saturday.

Cow Creek hut

Saturday 23/11/2013
Initially the day looked slightly cloudy, which is good walking weather. On up to Cow Saddle in ok heat. The Cow sign is starting to look a bit worn.

Cow Saddle

Is it acceptable to repaint it? Or is it meant to rust away? What is the bush code for bush relics? However by ten thirty as I left the shelter of the bush I was exposed to the full heat of the sun and no breeze. Stifling hot.

Peak 1360 Cattle Ridge

The section from Waingawa to Arete is very interesting, there is a two meter step which is easily ascended as there are plenty of hand holds and nice ledges for feet. Then there are good views of Bannister.

Bannister from above small step

From here it was a slow hot two more hours to Arete, where finally I could get some water.

Arete Hut

Rested up for an hour at Arete and had some view and packed out the rubbish that David Scoullar had left here. It was an hour to the Waiohine Pinnacles and then another hour and a half to Tarn ridge hut. Must be one of the most enjoyable journies in the Tararua's.

Tarn Ridge Hut

Sunday 24/11/2013
An even better day than yesterday, as I left the hut it was blue sky in the Tararua's and clouds on the edges, and great views. Moon view from the hut.

Moon in the North West

Clean view down Dorset Ridge.

Dorset Ridge from 1435 on way up Girdlestone

Great views all over the Tararua's on my way over Girdlestone, Brockett and down Table Ridge.

Bannister

Bannister

Broken Axe Pinnacles

Broken Axe Pinnacles

Approaching Brockett

North face of Mitre

Looking NE along Table Ridge

Another view of North face of Mitre

Tarn on Table Ridge

Looking SW from Table Ridge

Finally at the car and can get my shoes off, that was two blistering hot days in the Tararua's, not at all usual.

Trip Times
Friday 22/11/2013
2213 Left Kiriwhakapa Road End heading for Cow Creek hut
2340 Blue Range Hut junction
0036 Waingawa Junction
0115 Waingawa river
0129 Cow Creek hut
Saturday 23/11/2013
0907 Left Cow Creek hut for Cow Saddle
0945 Cow Saddle (took the long way)
1034 Out of the bush heading to Waiangawa
1158 On Peak 1360 on Cattle Ridge
1215 Waingawa
1256 Peak 1385
1401 Just above the 2 meter step heading for peak 1513
1603 At Arete Hut
1705 Left Arete Hut
1807 Peak 1470 Waiohine Pinnalce
1841 On Tarn Ridge
1940 Tarn Ridge Hut
Sunday 24/11/2013
1059 Left Tarn Ridge Hut
1148 Girdlestone
1245 At Tarn on Table Ridge 
1400 At the bush edge on way down to Cow Creek Hut
1440 At Table Ridge Arete Forks junction on track
1453 Cow Creek Hut
1543 Left Cow Creek Hut
1707 Waingawa turnoff
1805 Bluerange Hut junction
1856 At car Kiriwhakapa Road End


Map of Trip

From Google Earth with NZ topo overlay

Elevation Profiles
The elevation profile is from GPS data and Google Earth. Giving a total gain of 4360 meters and a loss of 4347 meters over the weekend trip.

Friday

Saturday

Sunday

Density Removal Notice

is bible free!

Neill Forks Mid Waiohine Circuit

This tramp is a circuit with some excellent up and down, and great huts to relax and have a dram at. And of course to progress the bible free Tararua's agenda that is normal secular activity for Forest and National Parks.

Was to meet up with Jesse at Totara Flats hut on Friday night, however when I got there he wasn't there. I left a few hours after him so assumed he must have not come.

Friday 08/11/2013 and Saturday 09/11/2013
Left Wellington as soon as I could after sorting some issues and drove to Holdsworth car park. Headed off just on nine pm. Got to Totara Flats in a nice time, even though the track has had all the orange triangles removed. Is this more DOC spending cutbacks? Recycling the plastic? Stopped at Totara Flats for half an hour and had a hot drink and snack. Left just on midnight to head to Neill Forks all seemed to be going well.

So as I headed up Cone Ridge ran into that dense misty stuff that makes travel a bit tricky. No probs I know the track. Lots to see, snails, millipedes, and spiders.

However some time later I realised I should have hit the track leading down to Neill Forks. and thought another fifteen minutes. Walked past a familiar rock, so familiar that an hour back I'd realised I always have a memory of it. Compass out and I was heading North, the wrong way. Earlier I had lost the track for a bit then got back on it, but in doing so had done a turn about, ended up heading back out. Shit happens, a good laugh and probably lost an hour.

Got to Neill Forks after four am, so time for a can of beer, snack, and sleep.

Saturday 09/11/2013
Late arrival meant did not wake up till lunch time. Left Neill Forks after one pm and across the swing headed up to Maungahuka.

An excellent day, almost no wind and nice temperature, great views, forest of twisted trees and a session barking at a dear. It bark, I bark, it bark, I bark and so on until it left; never saw it.

Once out on the open tops there was cloud coming and going and views for mile, looking South, at the cloud chasing me.

And looking West, the most distant is Kapiti Island, all fading grey.

Cloud finally caught and engulfed me just before I got to Maungahuka, swirled up and clagged in minutes.

 Stopped at Maungahuka for snack and drink as misty Tararua clag stuff continued to roll in.

Then on to Aokaparangi for the night, was intending to get to Mid Waiohine, but the track down thru the bush isn't something I want to try in the dark.  On Simpson had some darkening views.

So Aokap it is and almost there.

Aokap is a great place for a few drams, had Smokehead, Glendronach 12 yo and a Kilchoman Machir Bay 2012.

Sunday 10/11/2013
Out of bed at nine am and off after breakfast of coffee coffee and some food.

And then up to the top  with some views.

and down thru the forest to Mid Wiaohine.

Stopped for a long lunch, swim and sunbath at the hut. The sort of day that makes me think it aint the Tararuas, so sunny and nice, more like Nelson. And its a wee bit icky this bruise of mine, after leaving Mid Wiaohine heading up the hill I fell off the track and bounced off a tree stump. Bit of an impact as the photo a few days later shows :-).

Off up Isabelle and such blue sky as I came out of the bush.

Across to Holdsworth with the wind speed picking up. Got to Powell and its a bit of a gale. Stopped for a hot drink and texted Jessie and got the knowledge on the lostness and darkness with no orange triangles.

Left the hut heading down to Holdsworth car park and home.

Map of Circuit

Elevation Profile

 Density
Two more huts in the Tararua's got the bible free tag. Aokarparangi and Mid Waiohine.

Trip Times

Friday 08/11/2013
2100 Left Holdsworth car park
2202 Totara Flats, Pig Flat junction
2234 Totara creek
2321 At new bridge
2337 Totara Flats hut
2359 Off to Neill Forks hut

Saturday 09/11/2013
0314 At junction on Cone ridge, been lost
0418 Neill Forks hut
1321 Left Neill Forks hut
1557 Out of bush onto open tops
1644 On Maungahuka
1653 Maungahuka hut
1728 Left Maungahuka hut
1916 Turn off to Aokaparangi Hut
1928 Aokaparangi Hut

Sunday 10/11/2013
0958 Left Aokaparangi Biv
1030 On top of Aokaparangi
1159 Crossed bridge over Waiohine
1215 At Mid Waiohine hut
1406 Left Mid Waiohine hut
1739 Isabelle
1809 Powell hut
1833 Mountain House shelter
1857 Totara Flats Pig Flat junction
1956 Holdsworth car park  

Almost done. Let your mind be free...