Tramp Reflections 774 - Kaimanawas / Clements Mill Road / Cascade Hut

26-28 January 2008

This is a trip that the club did a few years ago when Doc marked a new route from the Oamaru Stream to Cascade Saddle to avoid travelling onto private land. The route is fairly strenuous and it was a surprise therefore to have such a good response with 9 members squashed in the van headed for Taupo. My son Steven also joined us, driving up from Wellington to provide an additional vehicle which was needed to avoid a 3 hour walk along Clements Mill Road at the end of the trip.

The weather had been dry for some time and the forecast perfect so there was no excuse for any tardiness as we headed over Te Iringa and down to the Kaipo Stream. The route along the Kaipo is one of the prettiest in the park and also one of the flattest and it was not long before we made Oamaru Hut.

With no serious aches or pains we set off once again, passing our stopping point of the previous trip and finding a perfect campsite approx ninety minutes upstream. The ground was dry and with no dew it made camping seem quite a breeze.

With an early start and knowledge of the route, the next day should have been relatively easy, however the memory plays funny tricks and while certain of the point at which we departed the main track, it turned out that I was a stream crossing short and some time was wasted while we hunted for the route which DOC has now trackmarked. Once this was sorted out progress was steady but it was still a long day with the final climb out of the North Arm saddle being the killer for most.

Our intended destination of the Cascade Hut was abandoned and we set up camp at the first stream crossing of the Cascade Stream . This was the same place as last time although the campsites were much drier and a pleasant night was had by all. The final day was fairly uneventful. Blessed with fine weather once again we soon reached Cascade Hut and then sweated our way up the ridge before dropping fairly steeply down to the river and out to Clements Mill Road.

Thanks to all who participated and made this one of the club’s “classic” three day trips.

Kevin B

Image; setting up camp on the first night on the Oamaru River.