The Book of Ashes

The Southern Crossing 10:41PM

So that was Easter. Summers final gift to us. The perfect weekend. The weather was meant to change to a southerly and the occasional showers were meant to come through but Bonnie and I decided to walk the Southern Crossing anyway. Brother Ed was leaving for his big OE (first off round Asia then off to Ireland to join the rest of the Bryant clan). He offered to take us up to Otaki forks and drop us off at the start of the track. That afforded him the use of my car to go fishing and visit Grandma and Grandpa before he left.

Our first day was the perfect calm sunny day. We were going up to Field hut (3 hours) then on to Kime hut (another 3 hours), a total of more than 1000m climb for our first day. It was a long walk. Something I've realised now is that the estimated times in the book are for medium to experienced trampers not for beginners. Not that Bonnie or I are beginners but the times are not generous like they can oft be.

After Field hut we broke the bush line and walked up the ridge towards the highest point on our trip. By now there were a few clouds but in between we were granted excellent views down towards Otaki and Kapiti Island. We arrived at Kime hut a little tired but otherwise feeling good and spent the night there with about 16 others (there was a tramping club of 8 there before us). This was probably good as there was no fire place in this hut and the extra bods kept the place a little warmer throughout the night.

The next day was the trek across the alleged exposed tops. We did it with hardly a breath of wind. What was meant to be morning showers turned out to be a little bit of fog. The weather held altho rising cloud did obscure some of the view. We made it to the top (~1400m) of Mt Hector and down the other side. The track was a little steep in places, requiring sure footing but afforded us some great views. Although this day was only 5 hours it was also quite a long day. We finally made it to Alpha hut just below the bush line at the end of the ridges. We had however seen views all the way down the hut valley to Wellington where a little white ferry blob could be seen slowly moving accross the harbor.

There was only one other group of 3 in Alpha hut. We went to bed fairly early but were woken by another group arriving with head lamps at 8pm. They had come up Marchant ridge from Kiatoke (our exit strategy for the next day) and it had taken them 12 hours. Admittedly they were in the 50-60s.

Next morning and the weather was still holding, all sun and no wind or rain. We set off early (left by 7:20am) and made our way to Marchant ridge. This was by far our longest day. Altho it was mostly downhill it was a long trip. We came out around 4pm that afternoon (with stops). The recommened time of 6-8 hours coming up was a little optimistic for some. However we did pass one guy on our first day who was running the whole track in that day.

Mum and Nana came out to pick us up at the end and after some confusion as to the exit point we were finally on our way home. I had an awesome trip and not too many sore muscles. I have posted the photos in the tramping section to the left.