Labour Weekend Trip – Friday 19th to Monday 21st October 2012
With a forecast of high winds all weekend and rain on Sunday we were pleasantly surprised that it was calm and sunny as the three parties (Fit, Medium and Easy) left the club bus around 8am, all heading up our first peak - Urchin. We emerged on to the tops with views of a snowy Ruapehu with cloud pushed up behind and whiffs of sulphur in the air from Tongariro.
Fit Party
At the turnoff down to the Waipakihi River we stopped for a team discussion to agree to continue on towards the tops, knowing the severe wind and rain forecast for the next 2 days. All confirmed, and then a quick stretch downhill for a sunny morning tea on the riverbank. The next section was upstream for 2 kms to the marked track up to Motutere – but we failed the observation test set by John from the HTC, never noticing a message on a stick in the middle of the river. Three cold river crossings, with the last threatening my shorts. And then a long, steady climb up 500m through the bush, and then out onto the side of a high ridge for lunch in the sunshine, sheltered from the westerly, with great views on to Motutere (picture) with a smattering of snow patches, and up the Waipakihi valley.
After lunch we continued up another 200m onto the top of Motutere, with great views back towards Ruapehu, to Karikaringa and further eastwards (picture – all we would see of snowy Te Raketuangiangi and Junction Top this weekend) – a cool wind, but mostly behind us, and a good ridge top track to follow until reaching the top end of the valley intended for our campsite for the night, between points 1612 and 1528. Much deliberation on the best place to camp, being well aware of the weather to come, and the fact that already there were quite a number of boggy / damp patches – by around 3pm tent sites had been selected, and everyone was into the serious business of ensuring their tent was going to be as secure as possible – involving scouting the area for suitable sized rocks. So no side trip as planned to Karikaringa, although that would be possible with a keen group under better weather conditions.
Cold wind, early dinner, preparations for a wet morning, and trying not to fall asleep before the mountain radio sched with the other groups at 6.30. The rain started around 10pm, the strong gusts of wind around 1pm … and one of my tent pegs came loose a short time later. Remedial work on that and a supporting peg, and then amazingly it then survived the rest of the night, as the wind gusts increased in intensity. All other tents managed well – and Kathy was so comfortable on it all that she was still asleep at 6.30 after the rest of us had been into morning preparations in our tents for a while.
Quite a different morning – rain, strong cold wind, and very limited visibility, even in our sheltered little valley. Two main options – go back, with the risk of being stuck on the wrong side of the river – or go on along the tops, and head by the most direct route to Waipakihi Hut … which was our decision.
So back up onto the ridge top, picking up a good ground trail and cairns that continued on along the ridge towards Thunderbolt without too many GPS / map checks – in spite of having minimal visibility of where we were heading. Just before Thunderbolt there was a low metal signpost – to Waipakihi Hut, Rangitikei River, and back the way we had come … and from there on the cairns and ground trail were no more for the next 4-5 kms of minimal visibility and multiple downhill ridges to choose from. So very regular stops to check GPS, map, and compass, and always it seemed another high point looming out of the mist.
From the time we climbed up out of our campsite we were on a ridge that varied in height between 1480-1660m, mostly well over 1500m. Estimated strong winds were consistently around 50-70 kph, and the stronger gusts between 80-100 – this ties up with some wind readings provided by John from HTC on the following day. And rain, hail, cold, and some decent patches of snow on the south side of the ridge. In these conditions, when you want to stop for a moment to reassess, it is amazing what is considered acceptable as a “sheltered” spot – a little clump of rocks or a less windy side of the ridge goes a long way !
Late morning we found ourselves on our intended downhill ridge and followed this down, even picking up a ground trail after a while, to a sheltered lunch spot at 1440m with a touch of a view by midday – 5 hours to travel just over 9km. Expectations of a roomy hut in which to dry out soon had us on our way again … now on a well worn path, and in a little while blue poles holding orange markers. A relatively short downhill in bush on a good track then brought us out into the open, with a view of the hut across the valley.
Graeme narrowly missed planting himself face down in a harmless looking mud patch when his walking pole went in and never hit the bottom … a short time later a considered crossing of the Waipakihi River before it was joined by a side stream, and the final climb up to the hut … to find a welcoming party of the other two ATC groups who had not moved on, as per their original plans. Also 2 from HTC, and 2 hunters, plus Molly the dog. Great to catch up with everyone, 
to find the hut already more than warm from the fire, and an extra bonus of not having to put up and take down the mountain radio aerial in the rain. Thanks to all existing residents for making extra room for us
Note that we had planned a side trip in the morning south from the campsite, and then had permission to travel over Te Raketuangiangi and Junction Top, and then down to the hut area – for future trip planning for a similar trip, the side trip is probably not viable, unless of course the weather is very gentle, and the party is able to travel at a good speed over all the tops … but then good visibility would make for some very easy navigation.
Later that afternoon and evening it rained more heavily, and the two hunters returning to the hut with Molly had to travel a long way upstream before they could cross the river – with Molly on her owner’s shoulders !
Picture – all togged up ready to leave Waipakihi Hut on Monday morning, having collected some lost possessions from the other parties.
Medium Party
A Good day and a Bad day, The Med group headed away, up and over Urchin and turned off on the connect track and on to a saddle just below Umukarikari - followed along this route before heading off on a ridge line to high point 1363 with the intent to camp on the flat area below Ruatahuna.
Alas too much wind and very wet ground found us scouting around for flattish ground and water. And so we had to drop down off the top. Around 5pm we set up camp , just on the head of a small stream, and then waited for the 6.30 sched before heading for bed. 
Morning brought very wet weather and a rush to get moving. A sidle down to the side stream that feeds into the top of the Waipakihi river was reasonable easy considering the terrain, and after crossing the stream we picked up on a rough hunters track which brought us to the beginning of the Waipakihi.
After a bit of river crossing etiquette off we went. Just before crossing no. 2 a group decision was made that the river was running too fast and a turn around was decided on - so we headed to the hut. A good decision as the river was pumping in a few hours’ time. A few from the Med group set up their wet tents and the rest all had floor room for the night. Next morning a brisk walk over the tops back to the bus.
Easy Party
On Saturday, after Urchin we dropped down, meandered through the bush and out again into the open for an early lunch on our way up to the Umukarikari Track, catching up with the medium group when they stopped for long enough.
From lunch we were exposed to a strong westerly up to the crossroads sign, which said Waipakihi hut 3-4 hours. Leaving there at 1.30 under dark clouds and the wind now at our backs we were pleasantly surprised to glimpse the hut around 3pm, and were all there by 4pm, crossing the side stream at the confluence with the Waipakihi river with nearly-dry feet.
With 3, plus Molly the Labrador, already in residence, our party of 8 made an almost full house in the 12-bunk hut, then 4 more arrived later and camped nearby. It remained fine for the rest of the afternoon but while waiting for the non existent weather forecast we noticed a huge domed lenticular cloud forming probably over Ruapehu. The rain began as light drizzle around 3am and got progressively heavier with wind gusts.
On Sunday with strong winds and heavy rain continuing, it was a very easy decision to cancel our planned day going down the river. About 10am we spotted the medium party heading below us towards the river. We marvelled at their determination but were not tempted to follow them. About half an hour later we saw them coming back and rapidly tidied up to make space for them. They did appear appreciative of the well-stoked fire and home comforts. Then around 2pm the very wet fit party rolled in, happy to forgo battle with the weather. Once again space was made and more wet gear hung up. We were now 24 at the hut which had a great fire and plenty of good dry wood and coal.
We often complain that huts don't have enough hooks and nails for hanging up gear, but this one did, even if it took Dennis standing on the table at full stretch to reach the highest ones.
With Kathy's satellite phone we were able to get a forecast of clearing weather for Monday, and sure enough the rain stopped during the night and even the wind became less , at least at the hut. By 7.15am the first ones were ready to head out via the Umukarikari ridge to the road end with Murray tasked with getting the club bus from the Urchin road end. Over the next hour or so all 20 of us from ATC headed up to do battle with the strong gusty wind , luckily coming mainly from the side and not head on. With no views and no incentive to stop we all arrived at the bridge on the Kaimanawa Rd within about 15 minutes of each other and having taken between 4 to 4.5 hours. There was time for a quick lunch before Murray returned with the bus having got a ride from the Umukarikari road end to the Urchin road end.
We were all packed up and ready to go by 1pm. A great weekend with the fit , medium and easy groups all together on Sunday night , John and Brenda from Heretaunga Tramping Club (friends of Alan Peterson) and 2 hunters from Hamilton plus Molly.
We were all
Easy Party – Graeme Pollock, Hamish and Michelle Dublon, Jean Barton (scribe), Keith Ayton (leader, driver), Lester Janse, Ming Lo, Willi Williams
Medium Party – Antal Kalocsai, Caroline Lemos, Claudia Edwards, Dave Best, Margaret Law, Murray Firth (driver), Tina Jacques (leader)
Fit Party – Dennis (Mr Navigation) Brown, Gary Williams, Graeme McGowan, Kathy Engelbrecht, Tony Walton (leader, scribe)
For more photos check our Kaimanawas Photo Gallery. If any party members have photos to add to these ones, please email these to Tony – This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.