BULL GULLY THE CATSEYE
A skilful landing on the Bull Gully beach at high tide meant a hasty unload and a wave to our pilot before Jack and I were left to the heavy stillness of a drizzly, misty evening.
Despite the rain we were eager to get into the bush. We set up camp, strung up a fly and headed up the ridge for the last hour of light. We were rewarded by a bugle opposite us on the big slip, and it was tempting to think that this steep ridge we were on could be used to access the main coastal ridge. I’m not recommending it, but if you’ve done it, let me know!
The next morning we crossed the creek and went straight up the face through wet boulder terrain until we got to a small terrace at about 180m. One bull was roaring well but we must have been a bit earnest in our responses because the cagey old fella shut up. We sidled along the terrace, climbing a bit until we popped out on the big slip. This slip is wonderfully open and stretches from the creek to around 500m, potentially a great route to the southeastern tops.
A young bull was in residence, but he wasn’t the one roaring. He was quite aware of our presence but was very reluctant to enter the bush just to his right; instead he wanted to bolt right across the slip. I think our cagey roarer was in the fuchsia off to the right and this young fella had learned his place over the roar. With so much country to cover, we didn’t investigate any further.
Don’t exit the slip too high; stay below 200m as there is a line of bluffs in the bush above this level. There’s a reasonable line around 170m, reasonable for Fiordland anyway,
