Kiwi Saddle Loop, Kawekas Queens Birthday Weekend 30 May to 1 June

A Kaweka loop taking in Kiwi Saddle, Studholm and Macintosh huts
Saturday, 30 May 2015

At the Lakes carpark ready to start

Some people are more excited than others!

We had nice views to the tops

It was a pleasant climb up, heading for Kuripapango trig

Lunch near Kuripapango trig

This is serious!

On the Smith Russell track, heading for our highest point of the day at 1359m

At the junction to Cameron Hut track

Descending to Kiwi Saddle

Kiwi Saddle Hut

The witch and the alchemist were banished to tents for the night.

Pistol offers Smurf some sage advice on getting the fire started

Captain Pringle was happy on his first trip

Boots having some broth - he can't eat solids anymore

QE wams her feet

Who loves da fire!

we didn't have marshmallows so tried melting jet planes - not to be recommended

it was a nice sunrise

Ruapehu looked glorious

Pam - the resident toliet spider

Still glorious

on the tops heading for Kaiarahi

Castle camp - an old forestry camp site

Conquered

At Kaiarahi - 1507m (spot the photo bomb!)

The orange toilet by Studholm Bivvy centre photo

We took a detour down to bag Studholm bivvy and Studholm hut

It was a beaut spot for the bivvy

Walking up the creek from the bivvy to the hut

Studholm Hut

Aunt Marian

DW being disgusting

and getting his just desserts!

We dropped down to a frozen creek on our way back

Pines are a huge problem in the Kawekas

The descent down to Mackintosh Hut

Mackintosh Hut

Very nice inside

Monsta in his Onsie - his Dad has a strange idea about ultimate tramping gear

a few more camped out on the second night

We had an awesome fire

Hoowwwllllll

The morning after

We had a good climb out

and then down again

Kaikuri river

Our first wet feet of the trip

We walked to the Lakes after lunch

Manning up!

and taming the wildlife

37km round trip