Day 125, Ahuriri River East Branch to Tin Hut (2567)
I was told that there was 25mm of rain last night but set off, hopefully, for the river in cold, dry but overcast conditions.
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| Leaving my camp spot |
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| Level gravelly plain |
The path left the main river and followed a fence line for several kilometres across a flat stony plain before reaching the steep drop to the river bed.
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| Getting closer to the Ahuriri |
The Ahuriri River is the largest unbridged river on Te Araroa but there is a bridge five kilometres south of the trail if it proved impossible to cross.
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| The Ahuriri River crossing |
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| Successfully across |
The water was clear enough to see the bottom and it wasn't impossibly fast so I walked into it. Picking my way carefully across, especially in the deeper, faster bits I reached the other side without getting my undercarriage wet.
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| Path above the river |
I won't pretend it was easy but I felt that I was in full control all the way and it didn't feel as dangerous as some of the other rivers.
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| And up into the hills |
I met Etienne and Pauline on the far side who had camped there after crossing yesterday. The trail then climbs around the river banks and crosses Birchwood Road to reach the Avon Burn which it follows, with a few crossings, to a track.
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| Following the Avon Burn |
The track goes higher up the hillside looking down into the gorges that ja big been cut by the burn until reaching the Tin Hut at lunch time.
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| On a good Landrover track |
The weather since crossing the river had slowly deteriorated and I was cold, wet and demoralised. There was at least another four hours to go to the next hut including an eight hundred meter climb to the saddle at 1680m in the clouds so I decided to stay.
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| Looking back |
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| Tin Hut |
Soon after Spike, Paddy and Scotty appeared followed by Hannah and Kai so we had a full hut, very useful as there is no fireplace.
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