Not Top Gorge Hut 31 August to 1 September

We ended up at Makarety hut rather than Top Gorge
Saturday, 31 August 2013

It was cold and wet on the tops, but we just smiled and saluted

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

and Pistol and I took the credit. Job done!