Roaring Stag Hut

I was planning to go on a major tramp in the Tararuas over Xmas, but for a number of reasons ended up scaling the trip back to just two days, with the intention being to stay the night at Cattle Ridge Hut and then walk back out the next day.

The track to this hut starts from the Putara Roadend (see my Herepai Hut entry) where it heads up along a ridge before dropping down to Roaring Stag Hut. From here the track crosses a river then ascends very steeply up to Cattle Ridge, which is situated someway above the tree line.

In the end I ended up staying the night at Roaring Stag Hut (very nice). About halfway up the main climb to Cattle Ridge I encountered a sizeable slip, which made it difficult to pick up the track. With a small amount of effort and navigation I would have picked up the route again, but this coupled with 100kmhr winds above the treeline, meant a decision to head back down again.

Looking at the swingbridge which leads over the river and up a steep climb to Cattle Ridge Hut.

Roaring Stag Hut.