Penning an ode to Kareao

Penn Creek Hut, Tararua Forest Park

As I walk down Lambton Quay on my way to work I blend into the stream of beige suits and frowning faces. For all intents and purposes it is an ordinary Monday morning. But I have a secret. Beneath my buttoned shirt and suit pants I harbour a thousand cuts, markers of a struggle less than 24 hours old against a forest intent on swallowing me up. This is the story of Penn Creek. This is the story of killer kareao.

On Thursday I had been feeling down, no one was around to go tramping with me. After a bit of prodding and a look at what was a stunning weather forecast I decided I would go regardless. Penn Creek had been a spot I had been meaning to visit for a while, a cosy hut penned in by the main range of the Tararuas on three sides and the Ōtaki River gorge on the other. The plan was to walk into the hut via the well worn route up to Field Hut and Table Top, before the steep drop to Penn Creek itself. The following day I would follow the old sidle track out to Ōtaki Forks. Thus the scene was set.

1. Into the field

Ōtaki Forks to Penn Creek Hut, via Field Hut

As I packed my things into the car my eye caught the bike in the corner of my garage. On a whim I bundled it into the car, keen to test it out on…