This weekend we had plans to do some more exploring around the southern Ruahines, but bailed out a day early with too much snow for the gear we’d brought, not to mention an extended mountain forecasts of 120km/h gale-force nor-westerlies in exposed mountain areas on Sunday. Okay, the forecast was general enough to be for the entire North Island, but if there’s a particular kind of wind the Ruahines are very exposed to, it’s nor-westerlies.
Dates: 3rd – 4th September, 2010
Location: Ruahine Forest Park, Petersons Road (Heritage).
People: Bernie, Richard, Mike L and me.
Huts visited: Heritage Hut (1 night) — aka Alice Nash Memorial Heritage Lodge.
Intended route: In via Heritage Lodge, head up Tunupo, around Toka and down to Leon Kinvig Hut, maybe poking down to Toka Biv on the way for a look. Then we’d have a long Sunday, looping up over Te Pohatu, past Longview, over Pohangina Saddle and back to Tunupo before dropping back down to Heritage.
Actual route: Most of the way up Tunupo, then we turned around due to uncertain conditions and possibly unsuitable gear.
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Our original plan was to go in via Heritage Lodge, head up Tunupo, around Toka and down to Leon Kinvig Hut, maybe poking down to Toka Biv on the way for a look. Then we’d have a long Sunday, looping up over Te Pohatu, past Longview, over Pohangina Saddle and back to Tunupo before dropping back down to Heritage. Actually, before the original plan we’d wanted to do a crossing trip, but we couldn’t find anyone to drive to the far side and switch vehicles with us.
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