01 October 2013

The central Ruahine Range from Top Maropea hut [2]

Top Maropea hut is an historic hut, and when you're there it's hard not to think of the innumerable people who've stayed there, the events that have taken place, the stories told around the open fire. Like Ngamoko and the other Ruahine huts, it's part of the cultural landscape, not merely an object in the physical landscape.
[20 September 2013, Panasonic Lumix GH1, 14–45 mm at 45 mm, ISO 200, 1/50 at f16]

All content © 2013 Pete McGregor
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11 comments:

  1. Elephant's Child2 October 2013 at 10:10

    And, important as it is, it fades into insignificance (as we do) against the grandeur of the landscape.

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  2. pohanginapete2 October 2013 at 14:10

    EC, in its physical form, Top Maropea hut's likely to be ephemeral in comparison to the physical landscape. On the other hand, if this area were found to contain valuable minerals, the whole area would become little more than a memory.

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  3. Zhoen2 October 2013 at 15:06

    A touch stone, a pilgrimage, venerable evidence of human experience.

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  4. Elephant's Child2 October 2013 at 15:18

    And how I hope that no valuable minerals are found (or sought) there.

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  5. pohanginapete2 October 2013 at 21:09

    Zhoen, a journey into some parts of the Ruahine can seem like a pilgrimage, although it's more accurate to say the more I revisit some of those places, the more the journey seems like a homecoming. There's something hugely comforting about arriving at one of those huts and knowing for a day or two everything's necessarily simple: no phones, no possibility of doing anything about work (so no point in thinking about it), no important decisions to make, and so on. Just the sound of the wind and the river and the birds, and the satisfaction of simple physical exertion at whatever level you choose. I could go on, but I'm sure you get the idea.

    EC, me too!

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  6. Relatively Retiring3 October 2013 at 06:08

    I find it difficult to 'see' a landscape so devoid of the evidence of human interference. No roads, no masts, no chimneys. It seems too big for my comprehension.

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  7. pohanginapete3 October 2013 at 08:28

    RR — yet the evidence is there: it's just less evident. Tracks (even if they're rudimentary), huts, signage, cairns, the signs of introduced mammals like deer and possums, infestations of weeds (some Ruahine riverbeds are choked with Buddleia or lupins): all these are reminders that this environment has been substantially modified by human activity. Some of these can be comforting, many are not, and I suppose this depends largely on the familiarity of the visitor with these kinds of environments.

    I appreciate your comment; it reminds me that other people see in ways unfamiliar to me.

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  8. Ruahines3 October 2013 at 11:01

    Kia ora Pete,
    A beautiful perspective of the Maropea valley and Puketaramea. Interesting that the river herself down there is in the process of claiming back from the footsteps of man. Maropea Forks hut is on borrowed time...

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  9. pohanginapete3 October 2013 at 21:10

    Kia ora Robb — yes, I guess that's a reminder for me to get to Maropea Forks again while the hut's still there!

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  10. Ruahines3 November 2014 at 20:25

    Kia ora Pete,
    Just for my own personal reasons. This is the most stunning and lovely moment I can view of the Ruahine. No towering peaks, no death defying feats required. Yet oh so beautiful and even remote. Looking down this valley to Puketarmea is still one of my biggest thrills. Kia ora.

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  11. pohanginapete3 November 2014 at 21:12

    Kia ora Robb. I'm so glad this evokes so many good feelings. Kia ora, e hoa.

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Constructive criticism is welcomed (I particularly appreciate thoughts on what you like and don't like), but please keep it courteous.