2104 - 2128 Locke Hut
The weather had improved immeasurably by the time we arose. The clouds were moving in a different direction, and with no rain, we headed for Locke Hut.
The first 9km to Hurunui No.3 Hut (I still haven't found No.2) were easy and uneventful except for a short stop at some hot springs. Mr Frodo and Angelynn had a soak. I didn't feel like it. They were kind of a surprise to me because, unlike volcanic hot springs, they didn't smell overwhelmingly of sulphur.
After Hurunui No.3 we headed up to Camerons Hut. Here we started to get an impression of the vast amount of water that had travelled down the valley last week. Slips, fallen trees, and signs of serious flooding are everywhere. By the time we reached Harper Pass Bivvy large portions of the track had been either swept away or fallen off.
Once over the pass the track looked like a scoured riverbed due to the water and occasionally just ended abruptly where the river had swept away a small bluff.
Locke Hut is fairly untouched though which is good as I am sleeping in my beloved tent as there are 10 people here.
Hindsight
- After looking at the damage to the area I was glad we hadn't chanced the weather.
- Camerons Hut would have been terrifying in the storm. The river beside it had gouged out twenty meters wide.
- After Harper Bivvy the track was a little hard to find. Probably due to damage.
Locke Hut Map
