This text was read by OCR from a scanned newsletter and has not been proofread yet, so expect odd characters and mistakes.
ate last year the Hutt water- ES became a “legal” haunt for adventurous trampers seeking an alternative entrance to the Tararuas. Although access is now granted, some restrictions remain including a ban on fishing, overnight camping, and the entry of people harbouring water-borne diseases (contact DOC if in doubt). Also, as part of DOC’s minimalist policy, the watershed shall remain relatively under-developed with regard to tracks and the maintenance of them — in effect, imposing a “wilderness” classification in the hope of reducing the number of users, thus inhibiting environmental damage. So John and I found ourselves following a track into the Eastern Hutt River from the Kaitoke Water Works on a fine Saturday morning in mid-January. Upon reaching the river we were soon moving upstream and onto a sidle track which gave us easy access to the lower flanks of Quoin Ridge. After gaining the ridge proper, we found track markers denoting a route through the bush. Although these markers are few and far between, the ridge offers generally good travel with only a few tricky spots here and there.
from the bush into a bright though cloudy day made less enjoyable by acold westerly wind. From this point the track follows an exposed ridge sparsely covered with shrubs (stunted by the climate) through an area which could loosely be called “semi-alpine”
comprising herbs, mosses, tussock and other ground-hugging cushion plants.
Before long we found ourselves on the relatively flat peak of Mount Quoin. Although from a distance the peak looks reasonably attractive for camping, the ground is boggy underfoot. A good view of the Southern Crossing could be seen, made more dramatic by the presence of low cloud whistling past the peaks. As we gazed towards Mt. Alpha, several people could also be seen as they neared the end of their day’s walk. But for us we still had to negotiate the northern end of Quoin Ridge and a “hairy” looking saddle partially obscured by low cloud, before climbing up to Mt. Alpha. Travel along the saddle became increasingly slow due to a covering of stunted flax and shrubs interspersed by several rock outcrops before we regained the tussock and easier ground. Finally, after a humungous effort John and I emerged on top of Mt. Alpha into brilliant sunshine and a well-deserved drink.
Once in Alpha Hut we soon settled in for the night and quickly made friends with the rest of our “inmates”. And with only eight of us in the hut, including one that arrived late and departed early I (whom no one saw but only heard), John and I got a whole top bunk level each to ourselves and a good night’s rest. With the arrival of the morning the rain stopped, although the wind increased in force. After the de-
Howard Biggs parture of our fellow “guests”, John and I had a leisurely breakfast before cleaning out the hut. Our original plan was to drop into the headwaters of the Eastern Hutt from Hells Gate and return to I Kaitoke Water Works. But due to the weather we opted for Bull Mound and to drop into the headwaters of Bull Mound Creek instead — a done deal, as they say, whereby satisfying our interest in “scungy” creeks! Upon reaching Bull Mound we emerged into the full force of a westerly wind which at the time required an into-the-wind-lean of some fifty degrees or less to stop being blown away! Once over Bull Mound we left the wind behind as we descended a ridge into Bull Mound Creek and periods of glorious sunshine.
We reached the Tauherenikau River in good time and stopped for lunch and a hot brew at Tutuwai Hut, after which we ambled our way down the Tauherenikau and out to John’s uncle’s place at Te Marua for a well-earned beer and a sandwich.
As anewentrance to the Tararuas, the Hutt River watershed will surely offer many new and intriguing trips for the Club in the future, I for John and plan to return here = very soon. And as for Mt. Quoin, having seen it from afar for so long now, it’s nice to have finally been there and done that — it’s well worth the effort.
Punters: John Collier Howard Biggs