Triumphant return to the Barra Track

With the MTSC van not available, on February, 21 of the Wednesday Trampers gathered at Memorial Park to begin our day out in a small fleet of cars to make a triumphant return to the Barra Track.

On reaching the Wairarapa the weather was overcast and very muggy.

The time to reach the Mitre Flats Hut the DOC prediction was that we had a nominal four hour tramp ahead of us.

A 4pm deadline was set to be back at the cars with the usual stop at midday for lunch.

We all started at 9-15am. Nine reached the hut with four arriving within three hours and the rest a half hour later. The walk out for the hut baggers was slower than the walk in so they were 15 minutes later than planned, arriving back at the cars around 4.15pm to find that two cars had already left.

As Chris Bruskill remarked ‘The Barra Track is a true tramping track with tree roots and rocky streams to negotiate’.

Of the 12 that did not reach the hut, four on finding the track heavy going, turned by 11.30 am. The remaining eight turned back after a 12.30ish lunch and all were safely out to the car park by 3pm.

This was our third attempt on this tramp having twice before turned by bad weather and raging streams so it was a treat to get a fine but muggy day. This is a beautiful tramp with some of the finest bush and river views in the ranges. Above left: A true tramping track! Above right: Morning tea at a view point. Below left: The Mitre Flats Hut bagged.