We started out on Labour weekend with a basic plan of staying a couple of nights around Studholme Saddle Hut, and possibly heading further up the main Kaweka Range during that time. Things didn’t work out that way. For the first time in a long time, at least as far as I can remember, we had three long summer days of sunshine, and ended up lazily following a loop around Kiwi Saddle and down Mackintosh Spur.
Dates: 22nd – 25th October, 2010 (Labour weekend)
Location: Kaweka Forest Park, Lakes Car Park.
People: Michael L, Rowena, Phil and me.
Huts visited: Kiwi Saddle Hut (0 nights), Mackintosh Hut (1 night).
Route: From the Lakes Carpark climb up to Kuripapango, then over the Kiwi Saddle Hut, and on to Kiwi Camp for Saturday night. Down to Mackintosh Hut for Sunday night, and out to the Lakes Carpark on Monday.
[Photos]
[map:https://93a12629bf06.ngrok-free.app/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/20101026-kiwi-saddle-studholm-saddle-mackintosh.gpx%5D
Friday night was spent camping at a DoC campsite somewhere near the Cameron Carpark, shared with another group from our local Wellington tramping club, which were themselves intending to spend a couple of nights around Kiwi Saddle. There was really nice weather on Friday night, conveniently forecast to last for the entire long weekend, and I bivvied out for the first time in a bivy bag I bought some time ago. I woke several times during various stages of the nearly-full moon’s path through the sky, interesting enough to watch but also a shame as it’d have been nice to be able to see more stars. The clear sky ensured things stayed quite cold, and in the morning I found iced condensation on top of my sleeping bag. At least it brushed off, unlike liquid condensation.
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