Kepler Trip (almost) Nov 2009

Kepler Track Report 4/11/09

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Thursday 29th October Jack Watt (Leader), Robin Mears, Warwick Scadden, Ken Smeaton, Gina Lee, Russ Kiddey, Judith Berkett & Ian Fussell (scribe) departed for Te Anau for a four day trip on the Kepler track. On arrival DoC advised us that the Alpine section of the track between Luxmore hut & Iris Burn hut was not suitable to tramp due to snow & avalanche conditions.

Friday 30th We had packs loaded including ice axes & crampons & headed off at 8.00am on the walk around the lake to the control gates to get onto the track in perfect weather viewing the Te Anau wildlife centre on the way.
On arrival at the Luxmore hut we were met by the hut warden who arrived by helicopter saying that she had been attempting to clear the track of snow & avalanche danger. She strongly advised us not to proceed on to Iris Burn hut the next day, which we heeded. Besides us there were only a few overseas visitors staying over plus some runners who came up to the hut for a training run for the Kepler challenge race in December.

Saturday 31st We had discussed options the previous evening on what to do now and decided to back track around the opposite direction, walking back out the way we had come in to the control gates & onto Moturau hut – a fair walk of 8hrs plus, again in great weather. We met a group of Aussie women who were heading to the Luxmore hut but had organized a helicopter ride through to the next hut to bypass the closed section of track. The hut warden Pat, knew Jack so there was much talk & banter of old times - again there was only one other visitor beside us to share the sandflies & mice beside the tranquil lake (Manapouri) that evening.

Sunday 1st Nov An easier day with a later departure heading up the valley to Iris Burn hut – on arrival after a cuppa, Jack, Russ & Ian headed up to the Hanging Valley shelter (2hrs) for the views and look at the snow conditions. We met the Aussie women who had come over by helicopter who had also done the walk to the shelter. We joined up with them that night for some good fun euchre card games where much table talk & cheating went on.

Mon 2nd Early start for the return trip to Rainbow Reach to catch the 3.00pm bus. A stop over at Moturau hut for lunch & another session with Pat (warden) & more banter with the Aussies who had been spotted dipping in the lake by an unnamed member of our party. We collected our stashed ice axes & crampons  & were surprised to find another bus operator arrive ½ hour earlier than the scheduled one & charge $3/person less to take us back to the motor camp so we took advantage of that. A clean up, a few drinks and a meal at the pub saw us back in good form after we calculated that we had walked near 90km instead of the 60kms for the round trip. A fair effort for four days & our feet felt it.
Throughout the track, we encountered varied birdlife, including Kaka, red crowned Karkariki, black Robin, Tui, Bellbird, blue Tit and the New Zealand Falcon. It was noticeable that the birdlife was much more prolific at lower altitudes and this we attributed to the extensive trapping  of stoats and rats, by the Kepler Challenge race committee members..Yes, we were thrilled to see a dead rat well and truly clamped in a trap. Other birds heard but not seen were Morepork and Kiwi. (It has to be said that five Aussie birds are more shrill and make more noise in a hut than any New Zealand ‘dawn chorus’)
The vegetation was so interesting as we passed through stands of Silver Beech, Mountain Beech and Red Beech, with the associated understory of young trees and the prolific ferns. We were delighted to see some real ‘Grand Daddy’s of Kahikatea, which towered high above and we stared in awe. Probably the highlight for us all was the transition from Mountain Beech forest to the sub alpine zone when we emerged to the myriad of colours and forms of these tough plants.
While we didn’t see any deer, on several occasions we came across fresh tracks and yes, a trout was spotted too
The only rain was on Sunday night that cleared for a pristine walk out of the bush on the Monday.
Many thanks to Jack for leading the trip & fellow trampers for the enjoyable company.