This was the nice-ish weather day, with views from the peaks,
The weather looked the same as yesterday then I left Nichols hut this morning, but I was hopeful for improvement. Today I had to make up for lost time, camping at the end of Mangaone South Road by skipping Dracophyllum hut. So my “double hut day” started before 7am with a big push to get over Nichols peak to Dracophyllum peak and hut before 11am. It felt good at the start, clearing Nichols peak and then hitting the jungle again… I made good progress and the weather was improving, allowing me glimpses of where I am. Wow, surrounded by jungle.
I made an exceptionally good effort and arrived at Dracophyllum Hut just before 10am. This is actually more a bivvy than a hut, so I am glad to be skipping this one.
Now onto the BIG hill for the day. I got onto the ridge line and then Butcher’s Knob. It was relentless up and down and up and down and up… one false peak after the other. All throughout you could see the next hut from across the ridge, teasing as to say, “come and get me”.
Eventually the white fluffy cloud things started again at 1200masl and I just made one big push to get to the top of Pukematawai peak (1390masl).
After a much slower than anticipated descent I made it to Te Matawai Hut by 3pm. Very impressed with my day, even if it was a tough one. Absolutely stunning views and it truly felt like I was surrounded by nothing else than mountains and jungle. So worth the effort and pain to get here. Feeling privileged, grateful and extremely abundant while slicing a piece of biltong on the side of the hill today, taking a moment… to take it all in.
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40.7375 – 175.3986
2 December 2024
FP-326
4 responses to “Pukematawai & Te Matawai Hut – Day 59.”
Wowee!
Those jungle views!
And the rest..
Like you said tough but worth the pain and effort..
Again.. Just WOW!
That bivvy.. LOL
Yes pretty ethereal views. I think Cliff used the right word to describe some of the photos.
Have to say some of the views (although damp) are almost ethereal through the low half broken cloud.
LOL… I had to Google that word quickly to make sure, but you are absolutely correct. It does seem at times strange and most certainly NOT what I am use to.