Te Hanga ridge, Kaimai ranges.

I took a walk up to the Kauritatahi Hut a month ago and had a bit of an adventure trying to get down off the ridge without backtracking. (Which I had to do in the end. That was a long day).

Attachment 37550

Went as far as the stream I've marked on the map but came to a large drop which turned me back. I came across a track that got me back to the hut but I was wondering if anyone knew how far south this track goes and where it goes to? I was hoping to be able to continue south to the North South track.

No first-hand knowledge of Ol' Flat-top, but I did a map recce a few years back and thought I spotted where the now unlisted track carries on south, from Kauritatahi Hut to the now unlisted Puketutu Hut.

Jump on Google Earth and if you use the "Historic Imagery" tool, you can access different aerial photos from the past and occasionally see now forgotten tracks. Take a look at the March 2011 imagery for that area in particular.

Attachment 37551

A few other useful links:
Tramper.nz
Mapspast.org.nz | Current and historical topographic maps (topomaps) of New Zealand

That's opened up quite a big area for me now as well as teaching me heaps about google earth. Thanks heaps strech, greatly appreciated.

Gee that image makes it look easy. I was in knee deep mud & crying for mum.

The old man said something similar. It's basically a big swamp. It had him crying for Grandma back in the day too.

Detailed instructions for getting to Puketutu Hut from Upland Rd. http://tramper.nz/3408/puketutu-hut-...ute-info-2009/

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You'll be so proud of me stretch. I've found that article, plotted the track on google earth, transferred that track to basecamp and I am currently downloading the birdseye imagery.

It's been a steep learning curve, tougher than the damn walk!

Thanks again for the inspiration.

Nice one. You can also download gpx files straight from tamper.nz http://tramper.nz/4277/

Did you BUY a Birdseye subscription??? I installed some custom firmware on my garmin that allows me to run Birdseye .jnx files without paying for the priveledge. Geek.

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Originally Posted by stretch

Nice one. You can also download gpx files straight from tamper.nz Routes to Puketutu Hut | New Zealand Tramper: hiking and walking community information

Did you BUY a Birdseye subscription??? I installed some custom firmware on my garmin that allows me to run Birdseye .jnx files without paying for the priveledge. Geek.

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Do tell :)

I got a years subscription free with my GPS.

Sweet. I'll post some instructions and links later.

Attachment 37561
I have accessed via this route good pull idea is to do it on a dry day though

Basically, you will need to check if this will work on your garmin, download a new firmware file (usually called gupdate.GCD), patch it with a 3rd-party tool, install the newly created patched version of the firmware onto your gps, then either make or find some .jnx files.

Background info worth reading to check compatibility with your GPS, and how to make Birdseye compatible .jnx maps from other sources: http://whiter.brinkster.net/en/JNX.shtml

Where to find the latest official firmware for your garmin, assuming you have an Oregon 6xx (there are similar "wikispaces" sites for other garmin models): http://garminoregon6xx.wikispaces.com/Firmware

The piece of software you will need to patch your firmware: http://whiter.brinkster.net/FirmwarePatcher.html

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Originally Posted by Bonecrusher

I have accessed via this route good pull idea is to do it on a dry day though

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Is that actually a short cut? It seemed very steep through there...

Quote:

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Originally Posted by stretch

Basically, you will need to check if this will work on your garmin, download a new firmware file (usually called gupdate.GCD), patch it with a 3rd-party tool, install the newly created patched version of the firmware onto your gps, then either make or find some .jnx files.

Background info worth reading to check compatibility with your GPS, and how to make Birdseye compatible .jnx maps from other sources: JNX Raster Maps

Where to find the latest official firmware for your garmin, assuming you have an Oregon 6xx (there are similar "wikispaces" sites for other garmin models): http://garminoregon6xx.wikispaces.com/Firmware

The piece of software you will need to patch your firmware: http://whiter.brinkster.net/FirmwarePatcher.html

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You win stretch, you've lost me.

I'm way back at 'how do I set up the position format on the 64s to read in NZTM2000'.

[QUOTE=Ricochet;373946]Is that actually a short cut? It seemed very steep through there...



That's why you do it on a dry day so you aren't doing the old two steps forward one back :-)
It just opens a lot more country coming in through there

Quote:

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Originally Posted by stretch

The old man said something similar. It's basically a big swamp. It had him crying for Grandma back in the day too.

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Same here . Epic spot .
And no I'm not your dad.