We had got to the hut in fantastic conditions via Umakarikari the previous day (see trip log under Umakarikari). The experiance of the late arrivals meant that we changed our plans which originally involved returning back via the river. Instead we got up early (my friend was supposed to be back in auckland for 9.30pm !!!) and went back over Umakarikari again. The climb back up out of the misty dawn was quite magicaland we made it back to the turnoff to Urchin in pretty good time.
Now this is a relatively new path across the ridge to Urchin and the track condition is far from ideal. Even before you descend below the tree line, there is a fair chance you might lose the pole markers in poor visability. The tussock land is quite eroded in places but all this is a peice of cake compared to that silver beech wooded ridge. (All beech forests are not the same!!!)
The track condition and seemingly endless up and down with no visability eventually sapped my morale and energy as I found my self walking further than I had gone before. There was large numbers of fallen trees though there had been a number of efforts to try and keep the track open.
As we emerged from the cursed ridge (oh did I curse it at the end) the weather truly closed in. The final slog over Urchin was a fairly low visability affair and it was with some relief that we reached the trig point and began our descent.
The forest on the way down should have been magnificent. It was still special but the possums had truly had their wicked way with many of the largest of the Red Beeches. It really was quite sickening to see. I even thought up a solution - I'll post in the discussion area so as not to hijack the thread.
Eventually walked out of woods just as the darkness set in. It was a good 10hrs tramp and in late May that's about as long as you want. I am looking forward to having another crack in summer - might even try the river then
