"To stand alone in pitch black night, between these great walls of rock, far distant from human contact. I watched with amazement the tumult of the abandoned elements raging with full force until finally exhausted they relapsed at length into the impressive silence of dawn. Truly how inspiring the old spirit of earth can be, thundering thus in the ears of us little men!" Andreas Reischek (written by this bird collector in 1884 after his tent was blown away in a storm above Supper Cove). [1]

Dusky Tramp: Supper Cove to Lake Hauroko [5]

Why Dusky? Particulary as Tramper.co.nz described it as "one of the most challenging tramping tracks in New Zealand" [2] and it is one of the most remote!   Well, none of us are getting younger and as Pickering & Smith noted "it has well-marked tracks and plenty of huts, and a range of remote scenery that would be hard to match anywhere in New Zealand" [3] while Sportsworld claims it "Offers the widest range of experiences of any track in Fiordland" [4]. Furthermore DOC has now provided 3-wire crossings for all rivers.

Ian was unsure how many would be keen to spend the extra money needed for transport to do a very tough tramp. As it turned out we ended up with a large party of eight: Ian Bardsley (ex Hawera), Ross Dunlop (Ohawe, near Hawera), Jim Callaghan (Wanganui, ex-Hawera), John Sutton and John Barrell (both New Plymouth) and Graham Thompson, Alan Rogers and myself, Keith Blayney (all from Hawera).

On to the pictures and story.

Bibliography:

[1] Spearpoint, G "Walking to the Hills - Tramping in New Zealand" Reed Methuen 1985

[2] New Zealand Tramper "Dusky" www.tramper.co.nz/index.cfm/action/track/TrackID/98/

[3] Pickering, M & Smith, R "101 Great Tramps in New Zealand" Reed 1998

[4] Sportsworld www.sportsworldteanau.co.nz/Dusky-track.cfm

[5] Department of Conservation: "Dusky Track, Fiordland National Park" DoC Sep 2003
or on-line for 2001 version at: www.conservation.co.nz/Explore/002~Tracks-and-Walks/Major-Tracks/Dusky-Track/track-guide.asp