WALK SHORTS
WEATHER BOMB CLOSES Routeburn indefinitely
WITH THE TRACK closed ahead and washed away behind, Dave How had no choice but to hunker down at Mackenzie Hut.
He and 10 others had left Routeburn Falls Hut at around 10am on February 3, tramping through torrential rain, lightning and thunder, which rumbled through the valleys.
Their rainwear had soaked through, but spirits were high – despite the weather, the hut ranger had said conditions weren’t expected to exceed dangerous levels, and they were enjoying the moody atmosphere.
Nobody expected the Routeburn Track would be closed indefinitely from that day.
How knew rain was forecast, but its ferocity took everybody by surprise.
“When we checked in with DOC at the start of the track to see if we could walk, we were told
