19-20 September 2020

Leader: Chris Keating

The rain appeared on the windscreen as we got closer to Rangiwahia on the Saturday morning. However the rain eased off as we set out from the carpark up to Rangiwahia Hut and we were soon taking jackets off.

We reached the hut after a couple of hours and had a pleasant afternoon at the hut, experiencing cloudy weather, then sunshine, then rain, then sleety snow. The hut was empty when we got there but we were joined briefly by a couple of hunters and then by three Wellington trampers who stayed overnight. We made good use of the firebox.

Sunday morning was frosty but clear and sunny as we climbed to the top of the Whanahuia Range. Very little of the snow was left from the snow falls of the last few days – the snow that Tony’s group had walked through the previous day. However all of the pools of water were frozen and the patterns in the ice were amazing.

At the high point of Mangahuia we got a message from Tony – they were back near the top of the range, having climbed up from Triangle Hut, and could see us on the top of Mangahuia. After arranging to meet for lunch we carried on over the tops in bright sunshine and with a light breeze, and headed down to the bush line. Tony’s group joined us shortly after that and we had a pleasant lunch in the sunshine before heading down the well formed track through the bush back to the car park.

We made a stop for coffee and sundaes at Hansens cafe in Kimbolton, before heading for home. A very pleasant weekend was had by all.

Those on the trip were:

Chris Keating, Glenda Robb, Yingjun Shelton