A week ago I walked up the No. 1 Line track and across to Kiritaki hut on the Hawkes Bay side of the Ruahine Range. The following day I walked back the way I'd come, in better weather that allowed more of a view north along the range. Much of the snow had turned to ice, and, although it didn't extend far down the mountainsides, most of the track wound through the icy zone. Not until I began the descent towards the main No. 1 Line track did I leave the snow and ice behind. When I did, it was with a slight sense of sadness.
All content © 2015 Pete McGregor
Kia ora Pete,
ReplyDeleteThe moodiness brings a sense of wariness but also invitation. Fully understand your reluctance in climbing down. Is that near high point Maharahara?
Robb
Kia ora Robb. Maharahara would be my guess, too, but I can't confirm it. Unfortunately, I think access to Maharahara from Opawe Road is now problematic (I might be wrong and hope I am).
ReplyDeleteHey Pete. Nice shot.
ReplyDeleteDoes the No.1 line track go through to Kiritaki hut? I didn't realise it went over the range.
I have been studying the MapsPast website which has the old inch/mile topo maps. Its interesting to see where the old huts were and some of the name changes that have taken place in the Ruahine.
Jono
Cheers Jono. The No. 1 Line track used to carry on a long way further than the seat at the top lookout, but quite a few years ago DOC stopped maintaining it past that point. I don't know how far it went originally, but it looks as if it did go right over to Kiritaki. Recently some keen local trampers re-marked it and might have done some judicious clearing too, although I still encountered some parts where I had to adopt some interesting yoga poses to get through (I didn't quite have to remove my pack). During summer with a small pack it'd be a comfortable day walk there and back.
ReplyDeleteThanks for pointing out the MapsPast site: very interesting.
Beautiful, beautiful composition Pete. I especially love that patch of blue. You're in the midst of winter, we're in the midst of summer - life on a big, round ball.
ReplyDeleteSnow and ice make everything look so different.
ReplyDeleteHow widespread was the rain that drowned Whanganui? We hear that the river was 15 metres higher than usual at Pipriki.
Thank you, Barbara. Right now, I like the direction that big round ball's turning. I'm keen for longer, warmer days.
ReplyDeletegz, I'm not entirely sure how it ranked, although I think I heard one report say it was the worst on record in the town. I imagine anywhere along the river itself must have been hard hit (Pipiriki's a long way up the river). Elsewhere in the southern North Island the flooding wasn't as severe, but it still caused a lot of damage throughout the region. The farm fencing contractors will have more than enough work to keep them going for a long time.