6-8 February 2021

Leader: Owen Cox

Day one – we started from the regional council camp ground at Kaitoke with the hour and a half grunt over the hill to the bridge near Hutt Forks. From here we headed down the track a short distance to Hutt Forks and then up the steep bottom end of Quoin Ridge.

We had lunch in the higher beech forest around where the track ends. Beyond this we followed the ridge. There is one area not far from Quoin where there is a sign saying "keep to the track for the next 350 metres to avoid tramping the delicate vegetation". At that point the track is almost non-existent and vegetation is anything but delicate, rather it savages and lacerates those silly enough to wander through.

Once we were above this we had a bit of mist over Quoin and through the saddle to the final climb to Alpha. We arrived at Alpha Hut in the evening to find it full with only floor space available.

Day two – the weather was clear and hot all day. The water tank in Alpha was empty and we found the pipes in were blocked. (Pay to have a bottle full for the next visit). Fortunately we had found good tarns off the track on top of Alpha so we had plenty of water for the day. It was nice having a shortish day in the middle of the trip and we made the most of lazing about on Alpha and the other tops before Elder.

Day three- we headed down the Western Hutt River back to Hutt Forks and the car. The Western Hutt River is not difficult but there are a few short narrow bits with deep water. We waded most of these. Just below Renata Forks, next to the old bivvy site, there is a very deep one but going around the terrace avoids the swim. We faced the last pool mid afternoon. Not long after we hit Hutt Forks and the grind back over the ridge to the car.

Two longish days and one not so long in great weather. And some new country in the Western Hutt.

Those on the trip were:

Owen Cox, David Williams, Chris Keating, Kylie Gilbert