23rd to 24th October – Overnight trip in the Kaimanawas.
Seven of us Climbed Mount Urchin and then proceeded along an un-named track towards Umukarikari Track where we walked along the ridge to Waipakihi Hut for the Night. Next morning we then returned back along Umukarikari Track to Kaimanawa Road End for pick up by our Cambridge based Support crew (whom dropped us off and picked us up as well as providing a sumptuous meal before returning to Auckland)
Weather was kind to us this weekend. While it was windy on the ridges, we hardly had any rain and it was relatively clear (with light cloud cover) throughout.
Some awesome and spectacular views were had. The track has some similarities to the Kepler Track (walked earlier this year), particularly along the ridges.
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Pink Blossom Tree at Oasis Motel (Tokenaau)
Pink Blossom Tree at Oasis Motel (Tokenaau)
Power Pylon near the start of Mount Urchin Track
Near the start of Mount Urchin Track
Near the start of Mount Urchin Track
Climbing Mount Urchin Track
Climbing Mount Urchin Track
Fungal growth on the steps leading up Mount Urchin Track
Break in the vegetation, view to Mount Ruapehu
Group Photo at Mount Urchin Trig
View of both Ruapehu and Tongariro from Mount Urchin Trig
Closer View of Mount Ruapehu from Mount Urchin Trig
Closer View of Mount Tongariro from Mount Urchin Trig
Morning Tea Break at Mount Urchin Trig
Looking Eastward from Mount Urchin Trig
Mount Urchin Trig
Looking Eastward from Mount Urchin Trig
Continuing eastward from Mount Urchin Trig
Continuing eastward from Mount Urchin Trig
Continuing eastward from Mount Urchin Trig
First Glimpse of Waipakihi River
Looking Eastward along Waipakihi River
Kaimanawa’s Waipakihi River
Continuing eastward from Mount Urchin Trig
Un-named Track (Heading towards Umukarikari Track)
Looking southward towards Waipakihi River
Walking up un-named track towards Junction with Umukarikari Track
Walking up un-named track towards Junction with Umukarikari Track
Walking up un-named track towards Junction with Umukarikari Track
Walking up un-named track towards Junction with Umukarikari Track
Walking up un-named track towards Junction with Umukarikari Track
Walking up un-named track towards Junction with Umukarikari Track
Walking up un-named track towards Junction with Umukarikari Track
Junction with Umukarikari Track
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Plant Life
Plant Life
Shale stone typical of Umukarikari Track
Plant Life
Walking along Umukarikari Track
Walking along Umukarikari Track
Walking along Umukarikari Track
Umukarikari Track
Umukarikari Track
Umukarikari Track
First Glimpse of Waipakihi Hut (2 Hours still to go to reach it)
Heading down towards Waipakihi Hut
Waipakihi Hut in the morning
Back (east facing) view of Waipakihi Hut
Looking out westward down Waipakihi Valley from the Hut
View of Waipakihi Valley from the Hut
Looking back at Waipakihi Hut
Crossing mouth of Waipakihi River tributary
Waipakihi River Rapids
Looking upstream of Waipakihi River and Valley
Looking down stream of Waipakihi River and Valley
Short stop to fill water bottles
Looking back at Waipakihi River while climbing back up Umukarikari Track
Looking back at Waipakihi River while climbing back up Umukarikari Track
Looking back at Waipakihi River while climbing back up Umukarikari Track
Plant Life
Plant Life
Plant Life
Plant Life
Looking out over Waipakarikari Valley from Umukarikari Track
Another Look out towards Waipakihi Valley
Umukarikari Track rapidly clouding over
Umukarikari Track rapidly clouding over
Umukarikari Track
Plant Life
Plant Life
Walking westward along Umukarikari Track
Walking westward along Umukarikari Track
Walking westward along Umukarikari Track
Walking westward along Umukarikari Track
View out to Lake Taupo from Umukarikari Track
Fire place remnants, just below the bush line
Umukarikari Track, typical scene
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Descending down Umukarikari Track under the bush line
Knobbly Tree
Umukarikari Track Mossy Growth close up
“Celestial Dragon”
Knobbly Tree
Knobbly Tree
Knobbly Tree with Trevor standing beside it (for size perspective)
Umukarikari Track Mossy Growth close up
Tree Fungus
Break in the bush with view towards Lake Taupo
Near the end of Umukarikari Track
The end in sight – Umukarikari Track
Assorted Trip Notes
Weather conditions in the area can change on a dime. They certainly did on Umukarikari Track on the Labour day Monday that we were heading out. Weather conditions went from Fine and Clear as we were walking up the steep section of Umukarikari track (after the hut), then changed rapidly in a matter of minutes to cloud on the trail (threatening to unleash showers on us) as we approached Mount Umukarikari, shortly after the Junction with the un-named track where we settled down to have lunch, the cloud very rapidly lifted and cleared up.
The un-named track after Mount Urchin between the Steep down track towards Waipakihi Valley and the Umukarikari Track is tough going. At the time we did it, it was rather over grown in places and had short but very steep undulations (albeit by about 10-15 meters so doesn’t show up as contour lines on the LINZ Topo50 maps) which made this section of track rather challenging and tiring.
Area is pretty popular with Hunters. Would hazard a guess that about 1/3 of the people we met on the track were there for hunting. There were a few hunters on Waipakihi hut who had helicoptered in however, due to unfavourable hunting conditions, they had requested a member of our party to call Helisika (The Taupo based one) once we got Telephone reception, to come collect them next day rather than their originally planned Saturday Departure.
