{"id":448,"date":"2026-01-31T09:20:08","date_gmt":"2026-01-31T09:20:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/loudonweb.com\/ta\/?p=448"},"modified":"2026-02-02T09:23:23","modified_gmt":"2026-02-02T09:23:23","slug":"day-32-martha-saddle","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/loudonweb.com\/ta\/2026\/01\/31\/day-32-martha-saddle\/","title":{"rendered":"Day 32, Martha Saddle"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

January 31, 2026
Ahuriri River to Top Timaru Hut
TA km marker 2555.7 to 2580.8
Hiked today: 25.1 km<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With another fine day, we were awake and packed up before the others at our campsite. We started up out of the river bed but unfortunately followed a goat track rather than our path and the detour added a km to our day. Rob soon found the true path and we made our way upwards and along the valley with scree covered slopes on either side. We traversed a couple of paddocks and then the path merged with a 4WD road undulating and wrapping around the hillsides.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Leaving the Ahuriri River<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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We stopped at an old but cute hut – Tin Hut – for a snack and then moved on, the path now continuing in a steady, moderately steep ascent until we finally reached Martha Saddle. We found a spot that was sheltered from the wind and had a quick bite of lunch – crackers and cheese – and then moved onto the gently descending rocky scree on the other side of the mountain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Starting the climb<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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From Martha Saddle<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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And down again…<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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We reached Top Timaru Hut at about 3.30. The sky was clear and the sun fiercely hot and we were both quite exhausted. There is a fast flowing creek just below us where we could have a bit of a wash but there was no temptation to linger because the sandflies are active and hungry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Top Timaru Hut<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

As we enjoyed a cup of tea and snack, other hikers joined us and there are now 6 people to fill the beds available – me and Rob, Sara, Rose, Marty and Florian. It is Flo’s birthday and he will celebrate by sharing a cinnamon roll with a one-match candle. I also made him a hot chocolate from our supply.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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