“On a Mish” #341 Singing in the Rain / Snow – Part Two. Boundary Creek Hut. Hakatere Conservation Park. 28.7.2015. Rain brings water and water creates life. So why do we call a rainy-day bad weather when it is so important to us as residents of planet earth? A day out in the mountains will be enjoyable if you approach it with excitement and positivity, and do not consider rain to be ‘bad weather’…
After a wild wander in some rather wild weather, I spotted Boundary Creek Hut’s long-drop toilet and knew I was nearly home. Sheets of rain washed over the hut’s tin roof as I burst my way into the empty abode and after a couple hours singing in the rain, it was time to enjoy the location I had got myself to.
The hut was nice and tidy, and a quick look at the hut’s visitor book showed me it had sat empty for just under a month. The concrete slab floor means you don’t need to worry about getting the carpet wet and this was good as I was dripping like a waterfall. After hanging up my waterproof layers beside the open fireplace I got some dry clothes on, and then began the minor mission of creating warmth in the cold winter environment.
There wasn’t much wood inside the hut’s wood bin, so after getting the fire going I had to dodge showers while collecting wood from the little shed attached to the outside of the hut. It didn’t take long to get the fire roaring and now it was time for a celebration dinner and drink. With a full belly and the fire crackling it was time to retreat to the warmth of my sleeping bag and fall asleep to the sound of water bouncing on tin.
Early-ish the next morning I woke up to the familiar sound of rain on the roof and as I prepared my breakfast I also prepared myself for a day out in the wild weather. My plan was to climb up to a small saddle south east of the hut on the track to Mystery Lake, and then traverse over the Dogs Range south to join the Te Araroa Track at the end of the range.
I had to get my tune selection right as I was expecting to be singing in the rain, but as if to give me a false sense of security, I stepped out of the hut into rain free air. This rare feeling of dryness didn’t last very long as I began my journey back to civilization…
