Thursday

The snow from the previous week was still down in the bush, but above the bushline it had been mostly compacted by a surprising number of day visitors up to Luxmore Hut. Not only day trippers; there were two groups of tourists at the hut that night. We had learnt during the day that there is actually a warden at this hut over the ‘closed’ season, so we were not surprised to meet Helen, but very pleased to find that she supplied wood for the logburner each day, and we could have mattresses on the floor in the living area. So a comfortable evening, but then our first change of plan. John had struggled up through the upper bush, and decided he might not cope with tomorrow’s trip, so he would return to Te Anau, stay at the Top Ten and meet us on Sunday morning.

Friday

On a fine, calm morning with the lake under valley cloud below, we parted company with John and headed up track at 9.10am. A bit late as it turned out. Once beyond where the tourists had gone, Peter and Raymond were plugging steps in the soft snow, mostly 300-400mm deep, i.e. fairly slow going. Up and around the northern spur from Mt Luxmore and to the saddle beyond, we plugged on and eventually started descending. Rounding a corner at 12.30pm, we could see the Forest Burn Shelter maybe twenty minutes below and the snow covered route ahead sidling somewhere up the face beyond, before it gained the ridge and disappeared out of sight. Being concerned at our progress, we took the prudent option – stopped for lunch, consulted the map, and debated the likely timing. At 1.00pm after lunch, with four hours good daylight left but allowing for the unknown, we decided to return to Luxmore Hut. Sure; that might have been conservative. We won’t know, but the changed plan turned out well. We returned to the saddle and went up over Mt Luxmore, descending the eastern spur which was fun in the soft snow and continuing calm conditions.

Back at the hut by 4.30pm, there was just a young English couple there. During the course of a second moonlit evening at the hut, I commented to Helen that I had a logistical problem with our vehicle being down at Rainbow Reach. She immediately asked our English friends, Emily and John how they were placed. John said he had a bike hidden near the road end so he could bike back to the farm stay they were at and return with their van. No trouble then to take me down to Rainbow Reach. Very nice.

Saturday

Another fine calm day above the valley cloud. We left Luxmore Hut at 9.00am returning down through the bush to catch up with Emily and John at the Brod Bay shelter at 11.00am. We followed them out to the Kepler carpark, by which stage John had biked off to get their van, return and take me down to Rainbow Reach.

The next stage was to find John, who wouldn’t be expecting us. At the Top Ten, we learnt he was in a small cabin, but not around. After we had lunch in town and still no sign of John, we booked back into the family unit we had on the first night. Having been out on the launch to the Te Anau caves, John found us after 5.00pm. So after showers etc we were happy to wander down to the main street for a second evening at one of the Te Anau restaurants.

Sunday

Today, instead of having an hour to walk out from Moturau Hut before driving home, we were able to leave the Top Ten before daylight and drive home, via Central this time, in ridiculously warm norwest conditions, to arrive late afternoon. Not quite the full circuit planned, but I don’t believe any of us were worried about missing the later section from the bushline down. Possibly a repeat in September still with snow? But in conjunction with another trip to make the distance travelled worthwhile.

On the trip were: Merv Meredith (leader), Raymond Ford, John Robinson & Peter Umbers . (MM)