Party: Anna, Elizabeth, Lesley
Map:
Elevation:
Distance: 13 km
Time: 5 hours 45 minutes
Notes: This was a killer walk. It was a variation on the 'not-for-the-faint-hearted' track we did prior to the Kepler last year, with what we thought was a shorter track back to the start after summitting. Nope. Multiple peaks up to the highest point of the Waitakeres (Te Toiokawharu) make for a bit of a slog in the mud, but the vegetation is classic awesome Waitaks - lots of supplejack, rimu and kauri (especially our favourite friend, Tom Thumb), with epiphytes everywhere. (And don't mention the bark competition). Great boardwalk too, along Huia Ridge, with patches of kidney fern just in this area. This is quite an overgrown piece of track, which is sort of swampy and full of tree roots and places for pigs to hide (paranoid? me?) Yes, the piggy diggings were extensive in the lower parts of this track (the upper being too much clay and rocks), and we saw some wee trotter imprints here and there. Sticks were carried. There was not much in the way of bird life - why IS that? Sometimes it's a chorus and other times it's incredibly silent. We also came across a strange black fungi on some rotten logs which we haven't seen before. Too tired to take a photo. Elizabeth managed to surprise us hanging upside down on the track at one stage - she had caught her foot in a tree root, smacked her head on a rock and was busy extricating herself when we realised what we were seeing. Blood sacrificed. We finally reached the car, and collapsed into the Huia Cafe for some caramel slice and a warm drink. Next time Anna mentions Tom Thumb I am going to be washing my hair.
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| Looking back to Huia |
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| One of the best glades, esp when you have phone calls to make! |
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| Tom Thumb..oh and Anna |
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