Normally writing a trip report you can get away with a few continued jokes and well, general lies. This one is different as someone might actually want to know where we went or didn’t! A shiver runs down my spine, responsibility aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhh!
So the serious stuff:
- We got permission from the farmer to cross his land at the road end
- There is a place to camp where George Stream meets the Waiautoa road
- To get up to Black Hill take the second track on the left after George Stream. Where the track forks take the right hand fork which will take you up to point 917 (4 WD track)
- From Point 917 to Black Hill follow a path which re-crosses the old fence line to the dip just short of Black Hill
- We could find no easy way from point 1410 to Mackintosh Knob. You will have to be very sure of your footing and the route has a high exposure
- We back tracked and headed for Cuckoo Saddle
- There is good camping near Bob Stream once down from Cuckoo Saddle. The best bet is to try and follow the fence down where you can
- Generally there is a lot of Matagaouri and gardening gloves are very useful
- At Cuckoo Saddle there are 2 markers; the second in the second dip gives one way down. However, if you are going to cut from the first one sidle north before going down otherwise you will be bluffed
- There is a waterfall to bypass in Snowgrass Stream. There is a rope on the true right. It was in good condition, but it would pay to take your own
- To get to Hornby Heights Biv from the junction initially follow the stream up-stream and not long before it bluffs scramble up a small gully on the true right and sidle out near the top. There is a marker on the skyline up along from the water fall
- From here there are a few markers which require quite a height gain which take you to a good route/path to the Biv
- We tried two routes to Jam Stream and failed on both. The 754 / 799 spur bluffs out at the end; this is probably the route to Snowgrass hut. The stream to the west of point 968, has markers at the end but we suspect the route has washed out as it was very exposed and exceptionally steep (stupid)
- From the log book we guess the route is actually over 884 and down the ridge to the Jam Stream junction with the Clarence.
Less serious stuff
- Harry was optimistic on the Friday morning. (Insert disbelieving editorial comment here!)
- David was optimistic on the Saturday morning
- Dmitry makes a mean fire!
- Marie makes a mean cup of tea on camp site arrival
- Thanks to Sharron and Tony for coming back and changing the ferries as we were late.
Tank fly boss walk jam nitty gritty, your listening to the boys from the big bad city, this is not jam hut!