9-11 November 2024

Leader: Owen Cox

Six of us had a bit of wetness at Mangahao Flats this weekend. Forecasts were varied. Some had most of the rain overnight on Saturday with only light rain on Sunday. Meteoblue had most rain on Sunday. In the event we had more rain on Saturday night and on Sunday than expected.

We met up in Waikanae and left before 8am on Saturday in 2 cars. No problems with the road into the dam. It was a grey day for the plod into Harris Creek. We had lunch by Dick Creek. After lunch we carried on up the track with a bit more mud than usual. A guy travelling light, his pack was about the size of my lunch, passed us on this stretch. His name was Jack (we later learnt) and he was heading to South Ohau. David led the front runners over the inland route by the slip just before the hut. The 3 at the back overtook them by doing the normal route through a couple of shallow river crossings. We had the hut to ourselves.

It poured overnight and the river rose. We left the hut early and went all of 10 minutes to the first side creek, which had plenty of fast water. Given it was early, and the rain was meant to ease off, we thought that we'd sit out in the hut for a while. The main river dropped a bit, but the side creek remained up. We weren’t sure we could get everyone over the streams, so we chose to stay put and go out the next day. Shortly after this, Jack arrived at the hut, heading out. We asked him to contact the club contacts when he got out, to let them know it was too late to try and get out on Sunday, which he kindly did. Jack's help averted a panic from our contacts. We spent the day collecting wood and warming ourselves by the fire. In the afternoon the river rose to the level it was early in the morning. We pooled food for the night and breakfast and had plenty. The main blot was the chimney. This is on the side of the roof where the water is collected so we found the water got disgustingly smoky.

It stopped raining in the early hours of Monday. The river had dropped so we headed out. We were able to cross the river, avoiding the inland route slip. The crossings were a bit deeper than Saturday but were not difficult. Lunch at Dick Creek again, then the plod around the gorge and back to the dam. The lake was full and water was going over the top of the gates; a pretty rare event. We stopped at Shannon for a snack and to ring people, letting them know we were out. Thanks to Jack for getting the message out and to Steve for contacting family of those on the trip so that no one was overly worried. The rain gauge at the top dam had more than 90mm of rain over the weekend and over 80mm in 24 hours Saturday night and Sunday.

Those on the trip were:

David Williams, Mark Robertson, Maryann Bugg, Owen Cox, Robyn Wilson, Yingjun Shelton

Currently there is no photo album for this trip.