Pt7 Day 23. Highland Creek Hut to Roses Hut - 27/12/17.

Got away about 0740 on a chilly morning. We did almost 11km in about 5h15 of walking arriving at 1430 having had a few good stops along the way.  However, in that 11km we went up over 1060m and down over 1200m in total - so not a simple walk in the park!  The GPS data for the day is here.

Last night another young woman, Holly, joined us in the hut.  She works at Outward Bound and was attending a friend's wedding in Queenstown.  So, as you do, she had decided to come early and walk the Motatapu Track to Queenstown!! We got away at about 0730, just behind David.  It was cold enough that as we dropped down into the gully in front of the hut there was a definite frost! Our hands were pretty cold to start but we headed uphill to warm up and to seek out some early morning sun! Today was basically all uphill and downhill - with a little bit of sidling - not really any flat stuff until we got to within a km or so of Roses Hut.

0620, and a chilly start to the day! We are initially heading for that first set of hills directly above the hut roof.

Wee bit of frost as we dropped down from the hut.

Looking back at the hut not long after leaving.

We basically had two sets of 400m+ up and downs today so we knew what to expect, more or less.  If you follow the link above to the GPS info for the day and turn on the satellite imagery on the map, it gives you a clear picture of what we did.  The DoC warnings for this section suggest it is pretty tough with steep ridgeline climbs and descents and steep sidles. With my lack of a head for heights in wide open spaces I wasn't sure how I would go. However, the reality was that is was no problem at all - not much worse than a walk on steeper bits on the farm at home (that was a relief for me)! ​ 

We started off up through rocky tussock land (again!) and made steady progress toward the first of our 1220m high points.

A bit of uphill warms you up! Although it's still cold - has to be for me to be going uphill with a jersey on over my walking shirt still!

Holly overtook us after about 40 minutes. Now higher up and in sunshine - jersey definitely packed away :-)

Looking back into the rising sun - the track shows where we have come from.

B coming along behind on one of our sidle sections.

As I have mentioned before, these are good for more than just climbing over fences!

Looking down to the Motatapu valley (Motatapu Station). Lake Wanaka is at the end of the valley if you follow it off to the right.

Tree-lined track in the middle of nowhere!

One bit of excitement for the day was a close encounter with a karearea (NZ falcon). We were near a stile on the first high point of the day and Belinda's attention was caught by an old pair of hobnail boots tied to a waratah (which was somewhat attention-grabbing!) - I noticed a couple of meters away a bird flapping around close to the ground. I couldn't immediately see what it was until it started to take off, when it became obvious. We think it was probably feeding on something but neglected to actually look! Fantastic to see one so close - B did manage a quick snap as it took off.

Karearea.

Boots hanging by the stile!

Old style. I remember Dad wearing hobnail boots on the farm when I was a youngster.

Horseshoe nails to attach the heel plate :-)

Looking back at the Motatapu valley again.

On our way down from the first peak.

Then it was back down to around 750m before heading up again to the second high point of the day.  We stopped at this second 1200m peak for 45 minutes or so for lunch and a quick internet catch-up, as we had some reception. Then it was, yet again, a steep descent back below 700m with a final very gentle uphill to the hut.  We stopped at the river a couple of hundred metres before the hut (right beside the main access road for Motatapu / Mt Soho Stations) to fill up, although it turned out there was a little stream quite close to the hut which also provided for water (see dead bird story below!).

On our way down we spotted David on the skyline heading up toward the second peak.

Back down below 800m and a little more beech - at least temporarily.

B joining me at the creek in the bottom of the gully.

Topping up with liquid refreshment :-)

The track did a zigzag out to where I took this photo before turning back up the ridge. B decided to do the kiwi thing and go straight up to the ridge :-)

On the way up I chatted with a nobo walker who B bypassed because of her direct route!

For repairs. Must have been here a while as they don't run stock up here anymore.

Looking back (NW) with Lake Wanaka in the distance, from near the second peak. Only a day and a half to get here from there :-)

Looking more or less SW - that's the ridge we follow down to Roses Hut in the valley.

From a similar spot looking south, the valley swings more southerly near Roses Hut. Following that valley will get you into the Arrow River valley and to Arrowtown.

Off down the ridge she goes.

Not quite all downhill.

Down to the valley floor, with the hut in sight (under the red V). The ridge we head up tomorrow is just to the left of the hut.

Another "stile to nowhere". This fence has been dismantled, but not the stile :-)

David and Jack were both there ahead of us and we also found a couple of farmers from the Hakataramea - Bruce and his wife Chris - with whom we had some great chats. On another matter entirely, we had been hearing stories from a number of days back about a dead bird in the water tank at Roses Hut and had thought we would do something about it as no-one else seemed to have!  Turns out that Bruce had the same thought and had immediately got on to draining the tank and cleaning it out - apparently he enlisted the aid of Jack (a bit younger and agile!) and sent him into the tank to scoop out sludge!!  Anyway - a good job done Bruce; just have to wait for the next rain to fill up the tank again.

Then Tom from Scotland came in (he was just walking from Arrowtown to Wanaka as conditioning for more tramping). With the four from Israel, Belgium and Canada (Daniel Jordan Darcy plus one other who liked to walk on his own at the back) arriving later, that made 11 in a 12 bunk hut. We were all sitting around at 1945 when Jack saw another 2 people half way down the last ridge. So looks like it will be 13! The late arrivers were sobo (fast) hikers who settled for putting up their tent.

Bruce and Chris.

Part of the team. (L to R) Daniel, Jordan, David, Tom, Jack, Bruce, Chris and Darcy.