Cessna & Sika Adventures Kawekas 2024

Team BRB head off to Boyds Lodge from Bridge Pa aerodrome, starting a bucket list adventure through the Kawekas to kick start 2024

[@philipwilkie3239]

Delighted to see this trip. I tramped through this exact route in August 1976 - a 10 day trip entering at Umukarikari and exiting at Kaweka J. Fabulous weather although very cold. At Ngaawaparua there used to be a three wire bridge up to the Otutu Tops that was completely iced over - and we crossed very gingerly early in the morning. And that track section from the Harkness turnoff to Ngaawapurua was indeed a work of art back then when it was relatively newly cut. In my memory there was kms of beautiful narrow boot width track traversing steep slopes in a rare style - I've never forgotten that afternoon - an absolute delight. Many thanks for bring these memories to life. I'll never get back to these treasure places in real-life now, but I can sure as hell celebrate the fact that I did have the privilege of being there when I was young and fit.

[@BackridgeButcher]

You have a fantastic memory mate, that's amazing country to travel in August as you did. Thank you for sharing your adventure...cheers BRB

[@thegrundinis4199]

Good stuff always great to see you guys together doing those big adventures while I was on my couch sipping on a whiskey! 😊

[@BackridgeButcher]

Good luck for the roar mate

[@Bazdavies1]

Nice one guys-Tussock hut looks a lot different to when I was last there. 30 odd years ago. lol. Picked up a few sika sidling the bush fringes above the valley floor. Good video-enjoyed it.

[@BackridgeButcher]

Thanks Baz, apart from the flash hut it probably hasn't changed much in 30 year's

[@user-br7of1qu7p]

Thankyou for sharing your trips guys..

[@BackridgeButcher]

Thanks for watching 👍

[@waikarimoana]

Awesome video and wonderful adventure Glenn, enjoyed being with you on this trip mate, thanks, thumbs up too, happy New Year and regards,, Tony.

[@BackridgeButcher]

Happy new year Tony, hot barrels for 2024

[@BushEscape]

You and little red rock Glen, awesome vid mate huge effort. Well done. Phil.

[@nakisteelo4761]

Hey awesome walk through awesome country. I have never been to Harkness or Ngapurua but that climb out of kiwi stream up to kiwi saddle I remember as crazy steep Thanks for sharing appreciate the effort put in to carry all that camera gear👍

[@BackridgeButcher]

Thanks Naki, it is a labor of love hauling camera gear, but 100 percent worth it! The climb out of Kiwi creek isn't too bad, still better than the high track behind the hut

[@roscoem7585]

Wonderful Glenn from the crew at Boyd between Xmas and NY 22. Wish my knees were still up to it. Keep them coming. I'll live vicariously through your Wonderful videos. Ross Macdonald and family

[@BackridgeButcher]

Thanks Ross, hope you have a great 2024, it was very special to be back in Boyd's

[@paulshort5347]

What a fantastic trip loved being there with you thanks for your efforts. I camped and hunted around Ngawaiparua hut in the 1980,s the swing bridge is missing now what a pity !

[@BackridgeButcher]

The taking out of the swing bridge was and still is one of the greatest Fu@k-ups ever!! Obviously whoever was in charge at DOC back then couldn't negotiate their way out of a paper bag. You would have thought a way could have been found to avoid what happened. I for one would happily have paid a toll to cross that bridge and land if it meant keeping the access on going...

[@GeoffreyBublitz-qb1mt]

The best way to celebrate NewYears day . Good on you fullas

[@rodsmillie7788]

Well done to the intrepid travellers, I was thinking of you through the festive season. Interestingly my records from the bookings show Ngaawapurua Hut had 19 fly in visits last year, although a good portion are overnight fishing expeditions. Not many people enter the hut books which doesn't help when DoC are comparing huts for funds to be allocated even though they have the same info I have. The tracks away from the front country haven't had any maintenance since about 2017 and are in a mess and the section from Harkness to Ngaawapurua is shocking. The BCT put in some waratahs and ropes on the section you filmed and DoC removed them because they weren't assessed by their engineer. If someone unfortunately fell there I don't think DoC would look too good in the eyes of Worksafe as they have made the site more dangerous. Great to see the park through your lens, thank you!

[@BackridgeButcher]

Thanks for the excellent update Rod, the bones of the park are still strong, she just needs some overdue maintenance in places. If all of us keep pushing, I'm sure DOC will come to the party and realize how important the Kawekas are. Fingers crossed for the future 🙏

[@harrybrenton-rule9110]

Top video Glen. Surprising to see the lack of people in the park at the moment. Keep up the videos on the kawekas love them.

[@BackridgeButcher]

Cheers Harry, once new years day came, the park was full of people again!! It was definitely time to go home!!

[@Sika-Hunter]

Nice one . Looked like a great time . Brian the ICE MAN is a great pilot

[@BackridgeButcher]

He's a special character! We were very lucky to get that opportunity, I've walked down or past the strip many times and thought one day I'll land on this...

[@snoop2477]

What an expedition. Your hut summary was on point. Yeah I wanted to go to Ngaawapurua with Chris Crosse 😮. So good to see footage of it..

[@BackridgeButcher]

Special place by the river, hopefully someone might pick up where Chris left off in 2024

[@s.t.houtdoorsnz.1454]

Awesome trip mate loved the edit keep up the good work.

[@BackridgeButcher]

Thank you 😊

[@deertrackernz2203]

Hell of a walk there you two, well done👌totally agree with what you say about being to expensive to fly with helisika, we used to fly with Chris (met you at the hanger a few years back, we made it into one of your KZbin vids😎) flying with Chris was pretty easy on the pocket.

[@BackridgeButcher]

Thanks mate, surely the day must come when another operator opens up on the eastern side. Hot barrels for 2024

[@kroadie3936]

It was great to see magnificent country,adrenaline pumping,to my relief sika down BRB thank you for the great hunt.

[@BackridgeButcher]

We sooo needed that deer, he tasted magnificent I can tell ya

[@kroadie3936]

@@BackridgeButcher happy new year thank you

[@hukfin1774]

Hats off to you both what a walk that was ,that Phil loves the park like us all so hats off to him as well , love your vids keep them coming

[@BackridgeButcher]

Thanks Huk, there's definitely still hope for the Kawekas with super hero's like Phil around (I swear he had a cape lol)

[@pt4036]

really enjoyed that trip ,just love that country done so many trips into the Boyd, a tip for you , i use a rubber spiked ball and put it into a long sock that way you can position it down your back while holding on to it and using the wall as a lever to find that tight spot, thanks for posting, have a happy new year

[@BackridgeButcher]

Enough tips for Little Red, any hunting one's for me please 🙏 Hot barrels for 2024

[@joshjackson8266]

Awesome adventure Glen. Bumped into Phil in the Macintosh carpark and pointed him down to the lakes carpark before he headed off into Manson. What a legend.

[@BackridgeButcher]

Jealous of Phil and his wapiti ballot!! Yep, he's a top man

[@robleishman-fj5ot]

Very jealous of the great trip.!Its not always about the hunting … but the trip!! Also I like the look of the haloweight coats … might have to get me one

[@BackridgeButcher]

Adventure hunting

[@BlacksheepMediaNZ]

Fantastic. Great vid . Keep it up. Red you are a machine!

[@BackridgeButcher]

Keep that quiet about the machine bit, or she will steal the show!!

[@garthharris8721]

Happy new year to you old mate and little Red may catch up early part of this year, great vid.

[@BackridgeButcher]

Be bloody awesome to catch up mate

[@huntingforadventure9977]

Well done you two, made me a bit jealous seeing all that lovely country again but I was off checking out new spots myself.

[@BackridgeButcher]

I could still be sitting somewhere at Manson with my binoculars!! That country never gets old, like a good wine, just gets better

[@antsbantsb8430]

What a bloody good adventure alright! You two sure do get it done. Inspirational-Good on ya!

[@BackridgeButcher]

Cheers Ants, just a couple of mature hunters getting it done!! Happy new year

[@reuben.jane01]

What a way to start 2024. Epic trip guys.

[@BackridgeButcher]

Cheers mate, happy new year to you and yours

[@KayJ47]

Good trip. Good memories

[@greghughson7450]

Bloody awesome mission mate!

[@BackridgeButcher]

Cheers Greg, nothing like some quality time in our happy place 😀

[@stuartsmith4882]

Awesome video as always. Would love to be able to walk through grass like that in summer without having to worry about snakes, could spend so much more time looking up rather than down…

[@BackridgeButcher]

Not sure how Kiwi hunters would cope with snakes!! Think I would struggle to be honest!!

[@godzonerefections]

You two do a good show - top notch...

[@BackridgeButcher]

Thanks mate, it's fun having little adventures and trying hard to record them...Plenty more to come in 2024

[@aaronharwood2021]

Good on ya Phil, legend!

[@BackridgeButcher]

Can't say it enough, Kawekas need more Phil's!! He's a top man

[@SuperLooseunit]

Yes wish we had an alternative now Chris has closed shop . Miss the quick backload missions into the Kawekas for a few days .

[@BackridgeButcher]

Yes...then I could come with you and the Tussock Master could show me what I'm doing wrong around Tussock valley!! Hot barrels for 2024 mate

[@SuperLooseunit]

@@BackridgeButcher wanna split a chopper ride in lol

[@BackridgeButcher]

That has potential!!

[@chrispyle722]

Man I miss air character Taupo days

[@BackridgeButcher]

Wish I'd got to fly with them too, always hear how amazing they were 😢

[@NZSikahunter]

Epic

[@simonakers4381]

3 things 1 you have great wife 2 great vid 3 thanks for calling out heli sika ,

[@BackridgeButcher]

Thanks Simon, pleased you enjoyed, and yes I'm a lucky man

[@vice_admiral9207]

Good stuff guys. Whats the breed of the pooch? Our gsp is getting on in years...

[@BackridgeButcher]

Miss Zoi is a mix of wirehaired vizsla, lab & GWP. Will be interesting to watch her development over the next couple of years. Can't wait for April, to see how she goes in the bush with a few stags on the prowl

[@markhaywood7307]

11 out of ten, only at 11 mins in.

[@BackridgeButcher]

Thanks Mark, we have the most amazing country at our backdoor

[@dagging3122]

What sleeping pads are those? XLite and Uberlite? How ya like them

[@BackridgeButcher]

They certainly tick the boxes for size to carry, you can slide off them occasionally but generally REALLY good. Unfortunately my black dog Annie has punchered two, her sharpe claws and our combined weight = boom!! We haven't found anything better for multiple day adventures

[@cnm757]

Hi, I was last at the boyd in the 70s. I'd like to fly in again. Do you have contact info for the pilot or plane that you can give here?

[@BackridgeButcher]

Unfortunately the pilot doesn't do charters, he flew us in as a favor mate

[@cnm757]

@@BackridgeButcher I'll keep looking, I really don't want to pay Heli Sika's arm and kidney asking price, even though they may land by the hut. Thanks for the vid

[@serverlan763]

Everyone is saying that these days. Thats what happens when someone has a monopoly. $1500 plus landing fees to fly into a place that doesn't even have very good numbers of deer. You can fly right into the head of the main divide in the Whataroa for less than that!@@cnm757

[@BlacksheepMediaNZ]

If someone keen to contact a company to fixed wing into Kawekas. Who’s the best to call?

[@BackridgeButcher]

Unfortunately there's no one commercially flying in there, in fixed wing that we know of mate

[@BlacksheepMediaNZ]

@@BackridgeButcher bugger. HeliSika do a great job, but just too costly. Bring back Chris!!

[@BackridgeButcher]

Ring around the local flying clubs, they will know pilots who are rated to land on Boyd's and might point you in the right direction 😉

[@serverlan763]

What's the pilots first name?

[@BackridgeButcher]

Maverick!! But some call him Brain

[@serverlan763]

Ahh, he looks like a guy called Brian, i used to know back in the 90s that used to fly a Cessna 206 out of Ardmore in Auckland. I used to fly into the Boyd with Christine back in the day ( Air Charter Taupo) I cant remember if there is a wind sock there or not in which case it would be fun landing in a tail wind on that little strip. Not a fan of hunting the Tussock and Harkness areas. Looks like good country but always get the vibe that the numbers are low and that the deer are mostly nocturnal due to a lot of pressure.@@BackridgeButcher

[@BackridgeButcher]

Brain has mentioned flying out of Auckland many moons ago

[@serverlan763]

Yup he used to fly to Stewart Island from Auckland to Stewart Island to go hunting. A great way to get there@@BackridgeButcher

[@johnantonyhunt]

Such great country. Love your journey. That Ngaawapurua track has been dodgy near the hut for a very long time. @toby_huntingnz and I got 2 deer right where you saw yours, both in the actual river. Skinniest deer Ive ever shot. The ground and forest was a dry as a wooden god

[@BackridgeButcher]

It's a magical place isn't it! Good news is, the spring summer we are having has been kind, the Sika are in excellent condition, should be a good antler growing year

[@johnantonyhunt]

Lack of hunters and increased deer numbers (three by the hut) they could look good but be quite skinny again? @@BackridgeButcher

[@johnantonyhunt]

but yeah absolutely beautiful rivers, bush etc @@BackridgeButcher