25.6 km - 7.2 hours
A chilly autumn start in the steep sided Mangaokewa Valley that soon warmed up with the sunny day. This track leaves from a camp site and heads upstream for 16 km - bush reserves, farm land, various forest types, all the while following a super stream. (pic) Given its cachment area though, it must have some wild times after a lot of rain.
The track follows the stream closely most of the way, although climbing over bluffs now and then, finding a few swampy patches, and not completely free of brambles and gorse - but generally that is under control. At one point a couple of goats sprang up and ran away very close to me. And then some huge red mushrooms in the last patch of forest before hitting the final farm paddocks.
From the road end I continued up to the corner with Mangaokewa Rd, and then kept on there for another 6 km steadily climbing up the hill still following the stream that is getting smaller, but still rushes along. More goats running away from the road.
No comments:
Post a Comment