Ruamahunga track to Kiriwhakapapa via Cow Creek
3-4/8/24
Just the two Co- captains headed off on the scheduled trip. A beautifully clear morning, with little to no wind, and fresh snow covering the tops along the length of the Tararua, after a front passed through a couple of days earlier. Most people were no doubt planning a trip to the snowline at least, but the scheduled trip for the weekend was planned with the potential for poor weather in mind, and was unfortunately a low-level trip below the bush line!
We pre parked a vehicle at the Kiriwhakapapa campground, which was empty, then left for the 15-minute drive to the start of the route.
We parked up on the farm, leaving around 10 am, with a plan for about 6 hours to Cow creek hut. The first 5kms are across farmland to the boundary of the Tararua Forest Park, and since we had Boots the dog with us, she was leashed to one or other of us for this first part of the tramp, much to her disappointment. The OT’s across the farmland are difficult to see at times, but by checking the route prior to departing, it was easy enough to maintain the prescribed route. A short sharp hill after about a
kilometer with 100m of ascent, certainly warmed us up, but gave a great view of the valley ahead, and the snow topped East and West peaks. We then dropped into the farmland flats, before starting to follow the rough 4-wheel drive track to the Boundary. We passed the memorial cross for Selwyn Pawson, a previous MTC President, Captain and founder member of the club. After about an Hour and
45 minutes we passed the small farm house and buildings just before we entered the TFP.
The track was certainly wet underfoot, and was fairly rooty and not easy tramping, compared to the previous visit we had made in the height of summer. It was also certainly cooler under the forest canopy, but pleasant to pause occasionally in small areas of sunlight for a drink and a quick snack.
After Two and half hours we passed an old metal sign in an arrow shape, unfortunately unreadable now, and not obvious to the direction it was originally intended to point to! The track was certainly a tramping track, with a couple of stream crossings requiring, more than a fair share of attention. We soon after this reached a river crossing at an S bend of the stream that flows down from the valley that
lies North of the Blue Range hut. We had no option but to cross in knee high water. The track appeared to cross immediately again, with the author taking a slip, and ending up quite wet from the waist down, only to discover that the track was between the two crossings…... a third crossing was made, to revert back to the track.
After 4 hours we were at the old signs to Roaring stag hut and Cow saddle, and started to follow up Cleft creek, then on up the spur to Cow Saddle. We finally made the Waingawa junction and the Cow Saddle sign at 4pm, slower than originally anticipated, but happy to know it was downhill to the hut.
The terrain drops steeply down to the Waingawa opposite the hut, unfortunately a short climb takes the track over a slip, to reach the bridge, and the hut. We thought we had seen some smoke from the hut, but in fact it was mist starting to form as the sun was definitely heading off to the West by the time we arrived after just under 7 hours.
Having brought a bit of kindling and some fire starters, we soon had a fire going, and had the hut warming up within the hour, which along with the usual hut routine of a hot drink or two, and a change of clothes, meant that it was pretty comfortable evening.
Sunday morning saw a frost, suggesting another clear and sunny winters day. We did all the usual morning things then spent about half an hour cutting some small logs to fit the firebox, and sorting out the wood that was drying in the area adjacent to the door. A sweep out of the hut, and the removal of the rubbish finished our time at Cow Creek hut for this occasion, and we were back to tramping at just after 9am. Occasional glimpses across the Waingawa valley gave glimpses of the snow topped
mountains against a very blue sky.
We knew that the first part of the day would be the climb back up to Te Mara and the crest of the Blue range, so took a steady approach to the 500m of ascent, taking just over 3 hours to the top of the climb.
We then followed the familiar track down to Blue Range Hut for a welcome lunchbreak, with what was really our first good views of the trip! We were able to view from Mitre along the Cattle ridge all the way to Herepai ridge, with Bannister in the background.
Another quick clean up, then we were back on the track towards Kiriwhakapapa, during which time we passed a couple going to BR hut for the night, and another couple of day trippers heading to the hut for an afternoon walk. The descent took about an hour and a half, arriving back at the campground, and then setting off to pick up the car where we had started the morning before.
A great circuit, which I suspect many would enjoy as a summer route
