Nina River Boscawen Saddle
Queen’s Birthday Weekend, 1 – 3 June 2019
I hadn’t been over Boscawen Saddle before, and not to Christabel Hut for ages, so I was keen to lead this trip. Kerry had been there twice, and was quick to caution me about the route down to the Robinson and Blue-Grey rivers.
Bill Templeton also commented about the time factor at this time of year. But my immediate concern was the storm at the beginning of the weekend. However, the forecast promised better weather further west and clearing Sunday and Monday. Once again, the forecasters were spot on.
With five in my wagon, we headed north after the final pick up at Ian’s place. Somewhere up the Waiau valley a returning vehicle driver advised that the road was closed and we followed other cars in turning around and driving back east thinking about Plan B. But eventually, we decided to see for ourselves and turned around again. Yes, the road was closed at Engineer’s Camp and Downers were saying three hours before they planned to open it. But I walked up the long queue and after promising we were only going as far as Palmer Lodge, the Downers bloke was happy for us to sail up the side of the queue and drive on. So a late start walking at 11.20am.
There was a token flurry of snow just before we left and some light drizzle for a little while after, and that was it for the weekend and no wind. Once up to the swing bridge for the crossing to the true right and up to Nina Hut, we continued on the true left track, still well marked but often a pain getting on and off open river terraces. But we were running late and we were going to arrive at the Upper Nina Bivvy in the dark. Using our head torches, travel wasn’t easy. Ian was up front finding the way, and we were all happy to arrive at the bivvy at about 7.30pm.
The Upper Nina Bivvy was recently restored by Permolat, and it now sports a woodshed and a toilet. Luxury! Ian and Peter put up a tent in a snow free spot, and I claimed the floor in the bivvy. It was a late night and a late dinner. Getting the fire going wasn’t hard, but with no wind outside to create a draft the bivvy filled with smoke.