Waimakariri Fall Hut and Waimakriri Col 11-12th February 2012

Uncle Roddus Tramping diary: Tramp No. 114

Waimakariri Fall Hut and Waimakriri Col 11-12th February 2012

 The Waimakariri Falls Hut and the Waimakariri Col is a classic Arthurs Pass trip and quite probably the best located hut in the whole National park. I first went to the Hut back in late 2009 with the Christchurch Tramping Club, when there was still quite a bit of snow in the Col, but we didn't do the crossover trip. When the club newsletter made me aware that they were running another trip up there and this time were going to cross over, I decided to go and finish what we didn't do last time.

 After the first day travelling up to the Waimak fall hut, the Club newsletter mentioned the possibilities of either heading over the Waimak Col and down into the Rolleston River and back out to the road or the other option of  out over Mt Philistine. The trip leader had read a description of the Philistine traverse on Tramper.co.nz and said that this was the route we would attempt on Sunday.

 Five hardy trampers assembled at Klondyke Corner, for a weekend of all Male bonding, after negotiating our way through the hoards of tents and vehicles there for the annual Coast To Coast race. After doing the car shuffle, leaving one car at the Otira river car park, the group set off for the long slog up the Waimak River just on 10am on a warm and partly cloudy morning. Apart from meandering off track while travelling up river to the Carrington hut, we arrived safely at the Carrington Hotel in the 4 hours usually expected. 

From Carrington we crossed the very low White river and followed a pleasant track heading up the true right of the upper Waimak River, leaving the bush after about an hour to be confronted with the magnificent sight of the beautiful Waimak valley and Carrington Peak. Second lunch was consumed just past Campbell creek in warm, pleasant conditions before a bolder hop along the last stretch before the climb above Waimak Falls itself.

 The Track climbing above the Falls is through thick low scrub, which had been well cut back since this scribes last visit. The views just kept getting better and better as we ascended the last part up to the Waimak Fall Hut, with Clive spotting a Rock Wren just below the hut and Uncle Roddus managing to get a photo of it.

 The Wainakariri Falls hut is a wonderful little six bunk hut perched on the top of another waterfall, with magnificent views of the Col itself , Mt Murchison to the South East and surrounded by Carrington Peak 2010m, Mt Rolleston 2275m, Mt Lancelot 2112m, and Mt Armstrong 2110m.The hut is owned by the Canterbury Mountaineering Club, was put there in 1963 and contrary to DOC fears still hasn't succumbed to an avalanche. When we arrived, after an 8 hour hour day, we found a crew of three, building a new toilet near the hut, after the old one was apparently blown away some years back. The hut also has had a new double glazed window installed and solar lighting since this scribes last visit.

 After setting up tents and donning warm cloths, as the light wind had a bit of a bite to it, and while we were making dinner, the familiar sound of squawking Kea's reached our ears and as we searched the sky in the direction of the sound, a gang of nine feathery bundles of trouble landed on the large rock near where the new dunny was being erected. Some evening entertainment was had watching the this gang attempting to carry off several pieces of building supplies and hoping they would leave our tents and packs alone while we slept. We suggested to the builders that the toilet would be deconstructed overnight and re erected on the rocks above the hut by the morning if they weren't lucky.

 Sunday dawned warm but overcast and without any trouble from the Gang. The leader suggested a 7:30am start, but was still asleep at 7:15am when this scribe woke him and his tent partner up. We left camp at about 8:15 and headed for the Waimak Col , rock hopping up to where the river flows through the ravine before we climbed up the bluff on the true right of the river to take us just above the bowl below the Col. After arriving at the Col, we checked the route down and found that it was a bit too difficult to drop straight down to the Rolleston River as it was quite bluffy and not at all possible to sidle round to the Philistine ridge. The only way up to the Philistine ridge that we could see( and matching the description in my route guide) was up a long and steep shingle slide which would take us up to point 1860. But the shingle looked pretty loose and climbing up that didn't appeal. After much discussion as to alternatives, we decided to go the usual route down the Rolleston River back to Otria, unfortunately bringing us out quite some way from the car.
 From the Col, we traversed Northwest just below point 1845 before dropping down to the gully below the Armstrong Glacier. This gully easily took us down to the Rolleston River. There is no track, poles and very few cairns on this route but we did have a copy of the DOC route guide which said to keep high above the true left of the Rolleston and sidle along across the tussock and steep screes. Not the easiest of travels, but it kept us out of trouble. Uncle Roddus had got a wee way ahead of the group about half way down this section and had stopped to see if he could spy any signs if a track or makers to indicate how high to stay along this slope, when he saw a couple of trampers approaching lower down. When they saw him, they stopped and Uncle Roddus assumed that they must be following a route he couldn't see and so made his way down to intersect them. After a short scramble he reached them, where upon one of the trampers said, I hope you didn't think we knew where we were going". It transpired that they were heading up stream to see if they could find an easier way down into the river bed before travelling back down stream, after giving up going to their destination of Lake Florence. Uncle Roddus informed them that according to information in our possession it was advised not to drop down into the river around this area. The three then spotted a cairn above them and climbed up to wait for the others to catch up. When the rest of our group arrived and after consulting our information the two trampers headed off back the way they came after offering a lift back to our car at the Otria car park.
 Afternoon tea was consumed before heading off again, with Uncle Roddus again leaving the others behind(a most unusual situation), for more sidling along this slope before dropping down a scree just before the bush covered bluffs and climbing down a scrub covered knob just before a gut into the Rolleston river. Here Uncle Roddus caught up with the other two trampers who were directing him where to climb down and they waited for the rest of the group to descend. When the others arrived, the two trampers with the car at the end of our route again offered a lift back to our car and so Uncle Roddus(for it was his car at Otira) left with them while the others rested amongst the rocks.
 From this point it was a short rock hop down stream to the track marker on the true right of the river. The track winds through some lovely forest with some great examples of Rata and doesn't climb too much. The track ends at a stream bed with a bolder hop back down to the Rolleston before the final couple of KMs rock hopping down stream to the rail bridge. These two guys were moving pretty fast and poor Uncle Roddus was pushed top keep up with his weekend pack, but stick with them he did and actually made it out nearly an hour before the rest of the party and so had plenty of time to get the car, eat, change and rest before they arrived. A challenging route but most enjoyable and a good bit of luck meeting the other two and avoiding having to hitch hike back to the car.

Near the confluence of the White and Waimak Rivers, Carrington Peak in the background.

Half way up the final stretch of the waimak, Carrington Peak dominating.

Upper Waimak.

Nearing Waimak Falls.

looking Back down the Waimak Valley from near Waimak Falls. Mt Campbell in the background.

Arriving at the hut, the construction of the new toilet.

Waimak Col center distant. Last time I was here 80% of this area was covered with snow.

Camping out.

Kea Party.

Most Kea's I have seen in one place. There were nine all up.

Fred.

Uncle Roddus at the hut.

Uncle Roddus above the upper falls.

Jim.

Julie.

Heading up to the Col, looking back to the hut.

There was a bit of rock around.

More rock scrambling.

The boys on the Col. All the route descriptions mention the permanent snow on the col, but as you can see there ain't much there this year.

Looking down the Rolleston from the Col.

Uncle Roddus on the Col.

Scrambling down into the Rolleston River.

Looking back towards the Waimak Col from Rolleston River.

looking down Rolleston.

The Rocky Rolleston.

The bush track lower down the Rolleston River.

Nearly there.