wangapeka - track

day 1: karamea to manunui belltown hut (200m)

the flood had just about receded from (most of the track), i could still see the vegetation being flattened out in the downstream direction

parts of trail with creeks running on it, parts washed away, two circumtracks due to mudslides, one involves steep climbing, very slippery and a bit scary

one creek crossing in thighhigh water, after that you stop worrying about dry boots, you just walk through any water ... why did i ever leave my gaitors in motueka?

day 2: whanganui saddle (1100m) - taipo hut (800m)

crossing side creeks ok, but steep climbing up and down into the creek valleys, emergency shelter only 500m high! part of trail slipped down into little whanganui river bed, very scary! wide crack indicating that more of the track is going to slide down!

long and very steep ascent to the saddle, it hardly rains, some sun, the saddle is fully in clouds, however,

descent comparatively easy and quick! taipo hut very nice, warm fire and very quiet night, i have the hut to myself and didnt meet anybody all day (after i left the three guys at the hut in the morning)

day 3: helicopter flat hut

i decided to cancel the leslie karamea part and take an easy 3h30 to helicopter flat hut, dont see anybody all day, nobody at the hut, pretty hut facing the stream, doc had just cut the grass/foliage down and the view is very nice, the river quite noisy!

day 4: motueka

in the morning, a heli drops equipment off for doc staff and the pilot offers me a ride to the trailhead, my first ride in ahelicopter! he flies along the valley that i would have hike out and i get a view of the moutains in the distance! i love it! he drops me off at the trailhead and offers me another ride half an hour later back to motueka