Wangapeka Track Day 2 – Taipo Hut

December 17th, 2002 at 12:00am

7:30pm in the hut and I’m the only person here in this 18-person hut! I’ve got a coal fire going in the stove and it’s nice and warm, and the views out the window are amazing. 10.5 km today to get here which doesn’t seem very far but it still took 6 hours mostly because of the BIG 1087 climb (over 3000 feet) which took me up to the Little Wanganui Saddle from the river bed, and it was up and up for awhile and quite steep too. Weather was ok in the morning – just cloudy, but then the rain came (as usual) and it rained the rest of the afternoon, although now it’s stopped and I’ve got clouds and blue sky.

The saddle was cool, with a lake at the top even, but the wind and rain and very muddy and wet trail kept me from hanging around too long. Down the other side I went to the first hut, a good 5 hours into the day. Called Stag Flat Shelter, this hut sleeps only 4 so it’s small, and inside the hut was a sign saying’Warning: This hut is built in an earthquake zone. In the event of an earthquake, beware of falling boulders.’ Hmmm. Didn’t stay there very long.

Just another 40 minutes or so down from there and I was at the Taipo Shelter, my destination for the night. Once in the hut I changed into dry clothes, started a fire, and made a cup of tea. Eventually Andy from Scotland showed up but he decided to press on to the next hut so he made his dinner here and then left about 7pm.

Now I’m here all alone and I feel tired from the walk today but I’m so happy to be here and especially to have the hut to myself for the night. Andy and I were up late last night talking so tonight I’m going to make up for the lack of sleep and get to bed early. Now let’s just hope for some good weather tomorrow.

Leap, and the net will appear. (written on the cover of Andy’s journal).

Looking down to where I started

Where it rains there is moss

View from Taipo Hut

Entry Filed under: Hiking/Trekking,New Zealand,Wangapeka