Kirwans Hut - 6-7 June 2009

Uncle Roddus Tramping Diary:Tramp No.76

Kirwans Hut - 6-7 June 2009

This was my first trip to Kirwans hut, a fabulous 12 bunk hut near Reefton. It was a CTC trip that I ended up leading as the original leader fell ill. It was a cool winters day as 6 of us(4 women and Me) set off from Capleton for the 5 hour walk through magnificent West Coast Forest up the gradual incline to the hut, perched in a clearing and surrounded by snow. After cranking the fire and a cuppa, some of us attempted to summit kirwan Hill, but turned back in fading daylight and forgotten headlights.

Sunday, and we continued along the Kirwans track to the old mining relics before heading down to the Montgomery river, with Uncle Roddus getting slightly lost on an abandoned section of track before someone came looking for me. We stopped for lunch at The Montgomery hut before the long slog along the four wheel drive track on the Waitahu river. We then crossed the hill back to the cars where we had quite a long wait for two of our group who took a wrong turn at the top of the hill. Took 8 1/2 hours back to car.