Having spied another possible route up onto the Hawkduns, and with a clear warm day, I couldn’t not investigate it. A gentle warm-up undulating around the water race gave me half an hour of riding before the pushing started.
Across the valley to the St Bathans Range – somewhere else to explore.
I soon found this 4WD track up slower going than the other route. Not because it was steeper, but it being less-used there was far more grass to dodge or push through.
Soon enough I had a view to gaze over as an excuse to pause. Back down Home Hills Run Rd, Rough Ridge in the background.
The foliage thinned at times…
before eventually disappearing from much of the track. The ridge still looking a fair way away.
I seemed to have taken quite a few breaks as the day warmed; thankfully a light breeze picked up.
Halfway to the ridge by now.
A big rockslide took the double track down to a more precarious thread of a trail – guess this is why this route is not used by larger vehicles.
Finally I got to the ridge and could see east to the area we’d ridden across a few weeks before.
A good time for more than a snack, I was still a few hundred metres below the summit. Looking at the map the ridge promised plenty of small descents as I headed north, which just meant that there would be more climbing. I set off pushing again, pleased whenever I could get back on the bike. The surface now was mostly rock of various degrees of size and looseness.
More excellent views of the Southern Alps, Mt Cook clearly visible.
Ooh, a brief roll down on some fun loose rock before another push.
Getting there, to another false summit that is.
Starting to realise that perhaps two litres of water wasn’t enough for all this effort, I was both surprised and pleased to see many small patches of snow left from the storm up here the previous day. I filled one bottle with snow and left it to melt.
I was surprised to see a tarn on the map, even more so to see it actually there.
Finally, the summit – rather flat, but good views across the Oteake to St Marys Range.
The highest point may have been a little off the double track.
Four hours in, time to head back along the ridge in the knowledge that I’d go past the point I gained the ridge and climb again. Best get to it. Trying to get some water out of the snow bottle, brittle fracture of my bottle split it down the side – not seen that before, it must have been quite cold or just time to replace it. Still, it held the snow-water mix adequately and I was hydrated.
A lot of my riding around here is looking like this, it might be time to start thinking about a suspension fork option for this bike. Yes, there’s a track there.
My mind still boggles that there are fences up here, let alone two parallel ones. Little use now, but funny to see how much one is gradually been subsumed by the rock.
Back to where I joined the ridge from the valley, but I’d continue south up that hill.
With only slightly more climbing than descending for an hour, I enjoyed a different vantage point of valleys, ridges and peaks that I’m coming to know better – before the long, fast, loose and enjoyable descent to the valley floor.
Yup, Falls Dam, St Bathans, St Bathans Range, Dunstan Mountains and Chain Hills becoming familiar.
Back at the car with hours of daylight left, a bit shook up and having carried just enough food and water – an excellent half-day trip getting further appreciation for what’s in the current backyard and eager to explore more. Can’t wait for new bike, one with a lot more suspension, to arrive – that beat me up a bit!
Occasional glimpses of surrounding forest – both native and exotic.
Light clouds continued to blow through, keeping the afternoon temperatures quite bearable.
Unsure what it was I was expecting but it wasn’t so many outcrops.
North over the Bendoran Station – there’s good gravel riding in the hills just beyond that; 
Looking back along the trail towards Pulpit Rock.
Starting down the staircase; Jubilee Hut just visible in a clearing in the trees above the true left of creek.
Down a the valley floor for the last section alongside and crossing the creek.
Looking back to the ridge and Devil’s Staircase – not too bad at all.
The large flax bushes would later provide good viewing of various small birds feeding on the flowers at twilight.
With the water tank empty at the hut, popping down the hill to the creek and carefully balancing not-for-purpose containers on the return was not a hardship when it is as tranquil as this.
Those tracks look rideable…
Could probably get four on that sleeping platform.
Recognising the peaks close to current-home.
Down to Waikouaiti, on that small bay. 
Back along the track to The Gap.
Down to Blueskin Bay area.
Ah yes, the naming of The Gap becomes even more obvious down here.
Start of the River Track.
Soon in quite different surroundings, I enjoyed the drop to river (further upstream than the old route).
Marking of the track is still in its infancy, there was only one part where I really had to stop and work out just where the track went.
At the bottom of the valley, the trail was much more benched and easier to follow than coming down off the ridge.
Having passed them, I was on trail that had had a lot more recent attention. Some of the trail building solutions and resourcefulness were equally impressive and ingeneous.
My last little side-trip – up to Possum Hut. Unlikely to ever sleep here.
Interesting walls though.
Back down to the track along Guffies Creek.
Mt Kyeburn on left, soon…
Over the Maniototo to the Rock and Pillar Range. Naseby, one of my current homes, in those pines right.
Across more diggings to yesterday’s big descent to the Otematata and the Southern Alps in the background.
It wasn’t straightforward.
Coastal cloud. Hopefully that would burn off by the time we went over the pass.
From the top of the track.
Andy’s photo.
Down to the Kye Burn, Danseys Pass road across the centre, our track down coming in from the left.
I think we were all pleased we got to the top. Another of Andy’s.
I guess that’s the bottom and I can take another photo.
Looks like Rob joined us for the flattest part of the trip! Trying to find the correct track to follow the river.
There was even a wee gorge to rise above.
This is the way to start another day of excellent riding, and pushing.
Well, that didn’t last long. Note Andy’s package of cold toast sandwiches for lunch (there was no shop); the manager was gobsmacked (a priceless expression) and probably despaired for us, we were subsequently offered and took the last two, substantial, pieces of bacon and egg pie from the chiller.
Looking considerably nicer up there than what we dropped out of fourteen hours before.
On Home Hills Run Rd again, for a change heading into the Hawkduns and the Oteake Conservation Area.
Hmmm, didn’t know that – no corresponding sign if going in opposite direction.
Quickly gaining altitude, and walking, amongst the tussocks. Yesterday’s Dunstan Range in background, St Bathans Range coming in from the right.
Mt Ida and Little Mt Ida – landmarks I’m used to seeing from the other side (Naseby).
Down Hills Creek to the Manuherikia Valley.
Rocks getting chunkier, but altogether the track was in the best condition I’d seen it – most of the ruts filled in and not nearly as loose as usual.
With a light breeze from the south, it was still warming up. I found a nice, settled puddle to wet my headwear in – but not to drink out of.
Every hundred metres of ascent was marked, a good excuse to turn and take in the view – and have another snack. 
Much more fun on the way down!
North along the Hawkduns, with the Benmore Range on the other side of the Waitaki (which we’d ridden around the bottom of two days earlier) and the Alps beyond – Mt Cook visible behind Benmore Peak.
Yay, Walking Spur! Cue eye roll.
Clear Stream, the end of which we crossed on TTW21 as it empties into the Otematata.
At least some of the spur was rideable.
Not much to look at, even less to drink.
Back on the plateau, we turned off last year’s TTW course east. A glorious day, we revelled in the vastness of the top and marvelled at the sudden deep gullies – which were thankfully avoided.
Rachel returns to Wire Yards Hut.
Andy taking in the vastness, so close to towns, but so removed – we saw one moto rider at the base of the climb, and no one else all day.
Outside the station/hut, so much more water up here on this year’s route – a nice pool to dip in here too.
Very similar to Wire Yards Hut, less of a view and less exposure.
A rather flat section as we crested the last hill. Getting difficult to work out where exactly we came from.
Hut Creek, there’s a hut over there, funnily enough, which is called – wait for it – Hut Creek Hut. Brilliant!
Tracks galore! None of which we’d take, save that zig and zag just beyond the tussocks, rising from the upper Otematata River.
About to climb from the river – after soaking our feet right at the end of the day.
History, huh.