Mount Difficulty
Sunday 28 August 2016
The promised fine weather window developed after some heavy rain earlier in the week. Six trampers from Oamaru drove the 35km to The Dasher , meeting up with Rodney and Helen on the way. We were met and briefed by the runholder, Grant McNaughton and set off west just on 9 o’clock. The initial stage took us across country on farm tracks, then down a steep tussock ridge to the Kauru River at its junction with Hughie Stream. On the way down we heard the barking of hunters’ dogs further up the Kauru valley. The Kauru River at this point runs through a deep, steep-sided valley – almost a gorge – heading in a straightish north-easterly line towards Kauru Hill along what is clearly a geological fault.
It was now 10.30 so the riverside seemed a good spot for smoko. The next stage was a steep climb up a zig-zag, followed by alternating flatter stretches and further climbs which, an hour later, brought us out on to the plateau surrounding Mount Difficulty on the west and north. Looking across the many-headed Hughie Stream we could see Mount Hut by a lone pine tree sitting in a shallow saddle below Mount Difficulty. The hut looked like the perfect lunch destination but, the further we went, the further away it seemed to get. Eventually, after traversing up and down around the Hughie headwaters, we reached the hut four hours after the off. It was indeed an excellent lunch venue – cosy but with seats for all and the luxury of an open-air dunny to boot.
At 1.30 we set off on the gentle, half-hour climb across tussock and rocks to the top of Mount Difficulty. Time for photos and taking in the 3600 panorama from an unfamiliar viewpoint, and we started down off the east end of the hill towards a track and fenceline we could see below. The track took us back down to the Kauru River which we crossed easily an hour after leaving the top. There we had a choice: the traditional route up Mackerras Creek or a shorter but much steeper track up a spur east of the creek which would take us more or less directly back to the cars. We opted for the creek – it promised to be easier going (we had plenty of time) and we could go past the historic slate quarry (mined by the Otago Slate Company in the late 1800s to supply roofing material for the burgeoning city of Dunedin). Another hour’s steady climb took us to the top of the valley to complete our circuit and, after another fifteen minutes, we were back at the cars by 4.30.
The total trip was just on 21km and took 7½ hours, about 6½ hours of which was on the move. We had climbed (and descended) over 1000 metres. Although most of us had been to Mount Difficulty before, the route we had taken was new to all of us. An excellent day, with fine weather, great views and a good workout for Jane, Anna, Helen, Rodney, Neville, Ross, Sam and John. Thanks to Grant and Charlotte McNaughton for their hospitality.
