Waterfall Hut, Ruahine Forest Park, New Zealand
North Block Road harbours very specific memories for me. It was from here in July 2022 that I had set off to traverse Te Atuaoparapara. In the process of this traverse I almost ruined four friendships and came close to cheese-grating my face on a slope of frozen scree. Safe to say, I knew that another July trip to North Block was going to be memorable. We were in the lead up to the Matariki public holiday and Ellis had asked if Tess and I would be keen to join him and Nicole on a tramp to Waterfall Hut. His planned route included river travel up at least five different water courses, alongside a healthy period on time on the tops. Sadly, Tess had to work but I was as keen as ever to get out of the house. At tramping club happy hour on the Tuesday before Matariki we discussed plans in more detail over a table at Leroy’s Bar. A southerly storm system was rolling up the country, depositing fresh snow on the high-country. Heavy rain was forecasted for lower elevations and we had some reservations thinking about our river travel. Yet, our resolve was firm, we would give it a go. Overhearing this conversation, James’ ears perked up and we convinced him that this would be a much better way to spend a long-weekend than being coped up in his flat. That settled it, the four of us would go to North Block.
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