"We had been trapped at Waikamaka hut for 3 nights while bad weather passed. We did try and exit via waipawa stream after the second night but it was slow going as it involved rock hoping and wet feet in streams that had higher than normal water levels due to rainfall. We had also planned to go up to Rangi saddle and head up to Rangioteatua peak which we read later at Smiths stream hut that another group had achieved but we were tired of stream tracks. So after the 3rd night we set off early up past the hut dunny to follow the ridge line to an unnamed peak (1635m) the going was steep but the deer have made a good track for the most part. As we neared the top we realised we might not be able to traverse past the enormous slips but we persevered which included clinging to rocks and saddling the new ridgeline which was made of loose exposed greywacke after both sides of the ridgeline had given way to large slips which we got a good view of, fortunately this was only for 3m. Once we got past this the worst we found in the tussock was Spaniard/Spear grass. It was easy going from unnamed peak to Rangioteatua peak (10.35am arrival) and then over to A6G4 (11.20am) and then down Smiths str..." — loganscott • Dec 31, 2025