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Next day was just a magnificent as the
previous. The “A” team headed off early to Rangipo Hut
leaving the “Top” team behind to enjoy the surrounding
landscape. The icicles on the hill-faces were awesome
however we had to be extremely careful on the swampy
board-walked areas as the ice was treacherous. We passed an
area of mountain beech forest where DOC had put steel bands
around trees to protect the mistletoe from opossums.
It wasn’t long before we were above the vegetarian into a
lunar landscape, passing areas where our yearly “pinus
contorta” weekends take place. I couldn’t help but keep a
lookout! The valleys we descend into and climb out of were
“breathtaking”, luckily the Wahianoa River had a
swing-bridge to cross. 5½ hours later we arrived at
Rangipo Hut. Steve set about chopping wood for our evening
fire, which Noel soon had roaring. Mobile phone coverage
was good from here. Mitch had a “moment” in the long-drop
when a gust of wind whipped off with his toilet paper… we
all had a good laugh at that but refrained from asking the
obvious ??!!! |
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During the
coarse of the night the weather began to deteriorate – high
winds and rain. Day three we battled our way over the
first rise from the hut – 70 kmh winds were expected and
they weren’t wrong! Funny… Mitch’s T-paper turned up just
as we left the hut. The Rangipo Desert doesn’t allow much
shelter against the elements – the only respite from the
wind was in the gullies. Mind you, it’s not a place I’d
like to be on a hot Summers day either. Noel’s new
(lovingly knitted by Judith) warm woolen beanie, which was
under his raincoat hood, was whipped off his head and there
was no chance of recovering it - last seen flying down the
mountainside! We crossed the Whangaehu River which is the
expected path of the Lahar – overflows from the Ruapehu
crater lake, then over Tukino Road, onto Waihohonu Hut for
lunch and out to Desert Road to meet the “Top” team again.
Thanks guys for bringing the cars around and making the trip
possible. Luckily we got back to Auckland on Sunday night
as Monday the Desert Rd was closed with snow!!! Thanks for
a super weekend enjoyed by: Noel, Mitch, Steve, Claire
(scribe), Tania, Eileen, Colin & Carl.
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