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Not Top Gorge Hut 31 August to 1 September
We ended up at Makateru hut rather than Top Gorge Hut. Saturday - From the road end at Morecock Saddle up to the main range passed Longview Hut and along to the decent to Makateru Hut. Sunday - Walk out via the South Makaretu River with a quick visit to Happy Daze Hut. Then up the North Makaretu River where we visited Black Stag Biv and along to Awatere Hut for lunch. Then up to the cars at Morecock Saddle.
Longview hut (aka coldview hut) was freezing
Not a day for staying at Top Gorge hut, so on we trudged
We saw a lot of stoat or weasel footprints in the snow (shame we couldn't have caught the little blighter!)
We were pleased when we started to drop down to Makaretu hut
It was stunning forest
Makaretu hut (you're looking the WRONG WAY Queen Elisabeth!)
Next day we decided to keep the cold feet theme going and walk out via the South Makaretu river
It rained all day, but we just laughed
A quick visit to Happy Daze hut (is it just me or is that the coolest name ever?)
'Happy Dave is here again' or even 'Happy Dave in a Happy Daze'...okay okay (man you people are sooo serious!)
Pistol is such a poser...all weekend it was 'take my photo', 'take another shot of me' blah blah blah!!!
and here he is AGAIN (sigh!)
Righto, back into the drink (this time up the North Makaretu River)
It was very easy to walk up
We visited Black Stag Biv (the DOC website says it's not recommended as accommodation...wonder why?)
Then lunch at Awatere hut (look it's Posing Pistol 'I've just seen a camera' Davis again)
A brisk climb up hill made us forget our cold feet (and hands, legs, heads, faces, arms...)
The sort of hill Tony Quayle would walk up for fun!
Looking across to where we'd walked up to Coldview hut the day before
Monsta
Safely back at the cars
But what's this...Nev had a flat. Time for the space saver
Old Boots set up the jack and supervised the operation
