Mitre Flats with Rain Again

Jessie and I aiming to head up to top of Mitre Peak. Nope. Too much rain.

Friday 25/09/2015
A late night start and a slow dark walk into the hut.

Saturday 26/09/2015
We did head on up but I was lacking enthusiasm to get to the top in with it being a wet windy day, and no views accept clag just a few meters in front of our faces. So back to the hut for some wood gathering and a fire to warm up the hut.

Rain

Sunday 27/09/2015
Headed back out to the Pines car park.

Waingawa River

Mitre Flats hut dark and dismal

Trip Times
Didn't really monitor the times for this trip. Just to wet, and its always about the same time.

Lodestone via Lodestone Creek

A day walk with Anthony up Lodestone using Lodestone Creek.

Monday 21/09/2015
We drove up the Graham Valley Road to the Flora car park. Headed off and walked into Flora Hut and then up the track about a kilometer to Lodestone Creek, which we then dropped into and discovered that it was easy going and marked with a stoat line. A bit of snow lying around, an overall great sunny day with good visibility and no wind. We did see what looked like a Blue duck in the creek. Furthur up the climb out of the creek got steeper and eased off to the saddle. Some good views there. Then a nice steep trail up on the ridge to Lodestone. Lodestone gave us great views. We stopped for a snack and cup of tea before heading down the icy track.
Very good day walk.

EXTREME CAUTION

Flora Kiosk start point

Old sign

Flora Hut

Anthony up the creek in the snow

Anthony as we head up the steep bit from the saddle

View to Owen

Clear sky views

More Owen

Anthony on way to Lodestone

Anthony heading Lodestone

Out in the open

Great views

Anthony on Lodestone

Heading down

Owen again

Icy in the trees, wish I had an axe or pole

Anthony holding the trees up

Open area on way down

Bridge on way home

Map

View Larger Topographic Map

Trip Times
Monday 21/09/2015
1109 Left Flora car park
1136 Flora Hut
1154 Into Lodestone Creek
1338 Saddle
1352 Open spot on ridge to Loddestone
1414 Top of Lodestone
1451 Heading back to Flora car park on the normal track
1551 Flora car park

Marchant Direct

Saturday 12/09/2015

On my own wanting to drop off Marchant Ridge into Eastern Hutt hut, in a direct way. Didnt work out as I got into scrubby bush and a bit of a bluff after I tried to drop into a creek that leads almost directly to the hut.

Cold out of the sun

View across to Quoin

Often photoed dead tree

Alpha Hector Zone

Decided that it was a bit cold to sleep out as I was going to run out of light, so went home; and I will next try the spur all the way. No more going West off it.

Map of Attempt Creek

View Larger Topographic Map

Trip Times
Saturday 12/09/2015
1230 Left Kiwi Ranch car park
1243 Up on the track
1256 Dobson loop track juntcion
1354 Smiths Creek junction
1616 Turned around and headed back
1821 Back at the car park

Waitewaewae New Track

On my own so decided I would check out the new track to YTYY as never done, and its said to add an hour on. Somehow I left both days at almost the same time.

Saturday 05/09/2015
Left Wellington and had a stop at my parents house on the way, Not too bad weather wise. Headed off and took the new track for my first time. Same time at both ways at normal walk speed and same time as old track.

The river way to the hut

YTYY hut

Dark, cold, fire, warm feet

Sunday 06/09/2015
Love my coffee in the morning and then after some hut cleaning and fire wood gathering I was off back the same way to check out the walk times.

Morning coffee

Viewing lounge on new track

First slip

Map showing New Track

NZ topo on Alpine Quest

Trip Timers
Saturday 05/09/2015
1203 Left car at Otaki Forks car park
1415 Plateau
1523 YTYY hut
Sunday 06/09/2015
1202 Left YTYY
1325 Start new track on plateau, snack stop
1335 On again
1448 Back onto the tramline track
1547 Otaki Forks car park

River not too bad for this weekend.

Otaki River at Pukehinau Flow for the weekend