“On a Mish” #15 The Pile of Bones(Part Two) – Mt Catherine(2085m). Hakatere Conservation Area. 16.10.2015. One of the very few downsides of a camping mish is the need to go, and I don’t mean leave. For some reason as the need to wee increases your sleeping bag seems to feel extra warm and toasty. Luckily after scrambling around for my boots and jacket I firstly managed to get outside before making a mess, and second the morning was a masterclass in sunrises…
The few clouds in the sky glowed red to orange over a period of about five minutes. Definitely worth getting up for, and definitely a powerful morning shot of mountain motivation for the mission.
After an early-ish start from my camp in the Swin Valley I hiked over Point 1098m, and onto the section of the Te Araroa Trail heading towards Client Hill Saddle. The clouds looked menacing in the west, but for now I was hiking in the dry and knew that I could retreat to my camp if things got too gnarly.
I started climbing the east face of one of Mt Catherine’s southern peaks, then slowly made my way up to a spur leading to the South-Ridge of the high peak of Mt Catherine(2085m). The spur started with horrible steep loose rock, which got the quads pumping as I gained altitude via a ‘two steps forward, one step back’ process in the loose terrain. I got to the shoulder of Mt Catherine(2085m), and discovered a huge pile of animal bones, which I later found out were the remains of the deer and mountain goats after a large Heli-Cull in the area. The spot looked like the perfect place for a Pouakai / Haast Eagle to take its victims to be devoured!
The loose scree changed to snow as I climbed higher, and as I started on the final ridge to the summit the wind began to increase. I knew the change in the wind was a sign of rain in the not so distant future, so I had limited time to take some photos of the epic views of the Lake Heron Basin, the Arrowsmith Range, and the snow-clad mountains of the Taylors Range.
It wasn’t long before I knew I had overstayed my welcome on top of the Hakatere giant, as the first drips of rain began to pelt my face along with the wind. I got back down to my tent in time to pack down with light rain falling. Having a tent that has to be put into its cram-sack in a very particular way can be frustrating sometimes, and as the rain began to set in I just stuffed my gear into my pack and bound it all with my pack cover.
With what must have looked like a big blue lumpy sack on my back I set off for the dryer climate of the car. Yet another wander across the tussock covered plains to the Lake Heron car-park in good ol’fat rain, which manages to find every kink in your gortex armor.
I was happy to get back to the car, and then get myself and my soaked gear out of the rain. I really love that moment just before you start the car to drive home where you take a deep breath, listen to the rain falling outside, and then begin reflecting on your adventure in the rain instead of still walking in it!
