Trip report for 17th - 19th Oct, Stanfield and Cattle Creek Huts.
You know you are in the Ruahine Forest Park when you visit bright orange huts! 4 of us departed early on Friday 17th October, heading to the Tamaki West road end for our long weekend tramping. The day was super sunny when we started out on our walk, choosing to take the Homes Ridge Track to reach Stanfield Hut. There was a short steep-ish bush climb before we joined the grassy 4WD track to head along the ridge. The vegetation was varied and quite different to the Tararua. Tarata, Rangiora and Clematis were all flowering well, and even some wonderful bush-lawyer flowers! There were great views across to the main Ruahine range and north to Takapari peak. After about 1.5 hours the track descended, headed into the bush for a short while, and then we were out into the Tamaki River flats (west branch). We followed this for about 15 minutes before a large orange triangle marked our entrance into the bush on the true right and short track to Stanfield Hut. 2 of the group chose to camp that night, lovely grassy spot by the river - but did lose a few hours sleep due to the very strong winds gusting and pushing the tent around.
Saturday we set off at 830am for our day walk to Cattle Creek Hut. It was a cool 400m up river until we reached the bush track to take us up and along a ridge to the next valley. The bush had lots of mossy trees to start with, then out into scrub, cutty grass and some early morning sunshine. The wind continued to pick up and was quite icy cold at times. Towards the end of the ridge we could see our destination in the valley, the pace picked up (or was it the wind blowing us?!). A short 100m descent and we reached Cattle Creek Hut. After an early lunch we returned the same way, taking care at the saddle track junction where the wind pushed us around. It was sunny all the way back to Stanfield Hut (and warm enough for 2 of the group to take an afternoon dip in the river!).
We did a bit of maintenance in the afternoon, trimming vegetation, collecting branches for firewood and cleaning the toilet. That night we had the hut to ourselves (no more camping in the wind!).
Sunday we walked out via the River which was very pleasant (having decided that the 'tops' route was too windy and wet.
On the Trip: Tony S, Katrina M, Simona S, Sandra B.
