The big day for the start of our six day tramp dawned drizzly and dull but we set off well equipped for our first day’s walk to Hidden Falls Hut. Alan came with us for the night and carried the food for our first dinner and breakfast, lightening the load in our packs.

The track started off over a long swing bridge then followed the Hollyford River along a very good track through beautiful bush. The bush looked fresh and luxuriant but, because of the rain, we could not see the Darran Mountains which we knew were on the other side of the river.

We were overtaken by three Department of Conservation workers who were on their way to assess what resources would be needed to remove a tree which a recent wind storm had blown over the track. The steep, muddy detour round the tree provided our first challenge as we had to climb back to the track via some very high slippery steps, not so easy with short legs and a full pack.

We were pleased to reach Hidden Falls Hut where we were to spend our first night. We chopped firewood and managed to get the fire going with a minimum of paper (one thing we had forgotten to bring) so were able to hang our wet clothes up to dry on the rack suspended from the ceiling.

The hut is set in a grassy clearing a wee way from the river. The five minute track in from the main track was very pretty with lots of slender beech trees, all festooned with fine strands of goblin moss. We spent some time out on the deck watching the many, many waterfalls cascading down the towering mountain sides across the valley, one bonus of a rainy day.

Our only companions in the hut were a Canadian man and a NZ woman, both very friendly, who were walking all the way to Martin’s Bay by the Demon Trail and back.