Rangiwahia, Pourangaki, Triangle, Iron Gate & Howletts Huts - Central Ruahines Dec 2015

My campsite beside Rangiwahia Hut

Day 2 - Pourangaki Hut

Footbridge below Pourangaki Hut

Day 4 - After a day hut bound due to bad weather we retreated and attempted to do the intended circuit in reverse.

The bushline ascending from Pourangaki hut to Spot Height 1614 on yet another clagged in day.

Ice crystals in the tussock at Spot Height 1614.

GPS required to navigate on the clagged in tops.

Lunch break at Triangle Hut 

Descending the river from Triangle to Iron Gate hut

Clambering up the detour route on the way to Iron Gate hut.

Iron Gate Hut

Day 6 - Climbing up the beech covered spur towards Spot Height 1519

Break at the bushline

View north from bushline with spur to SH 1519 on right.

Easy travel on the rolling tussock tops

Heading north from Otumore

Descending from SH 1452

Big climb out of the saddle beforeTaumatataua

Sunny porch at Howletts Hut

Day 5 -Gale force winds had us retreating south after giving up on Sawtooth Ridge

View north from our wind swept lunch spot below SH 1519

Campsite 100m from Iron Gate hut

Day 7 - clambering up the leatherwood clad spur towards Mangahuia.

View down the spur towards Iron Gate hut

View up the tussock slopes to Mangahuia

Easterly panarama from Mangahuia. Click to view high resolution image

View down Mangahuia spur we climbed up.

Descending down Deadmans Track from Mangahuia