Day 88: Old Man hut to Tarn hut

It had started raining the previous evening and had rained quite hard at times over night. It was still drizzling in the morning when we got up. Hanna was up for continuing over Mt Rintoul, which the trail notes don’t recommend doing in ‘poor’ weather. Emmet and I decided to follow. There was no wind so even if the rain intensified, it should still be ok. We also figured that the last forecast we saw showed rain all week so what would really be the point of waiting a day. We set off and had a steep climb from the hut back up to the trail and then more climbing up Mt Little Rintoul. It was quite enjoyable since there was no rain and it was fun picking the way across the rocks after we were above the tree line.

There was an insanely steep descent after the summit and then it was up and up again to the summit of Mt Rintoul. It started raining a bit harder when I got to the summit and of course there were no views so I didn’t stop.

I headed down a really fun scree slope, which was sort of like walking downhill in a lot of a snow, you slip down a bit while digging your heels in, but then your footing eventually holds. Eventually, it was back into the forest and more descent to Mt Rintoul hut, where I stopped for a break. I tried to start a fire in the stove to get the hut warm for the others and dry out a bit, but with no success. Emmet arrived and did manage to get a fire going. After a good long break, Hanna and I set off while Emmet was still undecided about staying or continuing. The track climbed through forest and then above the treeline to Mt Purple Top, which was aptly named.

There was a bit of down and then up again past another summit before descending and sidling through the forest for a while. There was heavier rain in the afternoon so I was glad to reach Tarn hut, which is beside a small lake. I did manage to get a fire going this time and Hanna and then Emmet showed up so it looks like it will be the three of us again tonight. The hut sleeps five but there isn’t a lot of place to hang stuff so it’s nice to spread out our wet stuff. The rain continued all evening as well…

Day 89: Tarn hut to Top Wairoa hut

We set off in the rain so I donned my rain jacket. It was a gradual up at first and then a gradual downhill, all through the forest. The last km to Mid Wairoa hut was a 350m steep descent to the Wairoa river and across a swing bridge. I was glad the metal wasn’t at all slippery despite the wet.

When I got to the hut, I took off my rain coat and my hiking shirt was drenched, not from rain but from my sweat given it was humid and warmer at lower elevation. I was even able to wring it out. Yuck. After an early lunch, it was along and through the river, climbing gradually. The trail was slippery, bouldery and eroded in places and slow going. There were lots of colours despite the gray sky; bright red rocks in the river and all sorts of shades of green in the forest.

There were also a lot of trees that seem to be affected with this black fungus, they sort of look burned. I had some tears of relief when I made it to Top Wairoa hut after 4 hours, especially since I slipped and fell on one knee, got stung by a wasp and then spent about a half hour looking for the trail after crossing a river. The hut’s busy, there are 8 of us in 6 bunk hut, but it’s a nice dynamic. It did stop raining in the evening so we could see a bit of the Wairoa river valley.