FMC "love our huts and tracks" event: overnighter to Kime Hut

FMC (Federated Mountain Clubs) are running a "Love our Huts and Tracks" campaign:

We're looking for clubs and keen people to connect their backcountry plans this spring with visiting some of our 951 public huts. Together we hope to visit them all so we can give them a quick spring clean, and also conduct a simple audit of their current state and from looking at the hut book, see how they are making a difference in terms of keeping people safe, conservation projects and types of recreation.

https://fmc.org.nz/what-we-do/campaigns/love-our-huts-and-tracks/ 

We'll of course take part in this too!

Where and when to meet: Hunter carpark at 9am on Saturday

What to bring:

• Basic + Overnight gear from this list: Quick gear list | VUWTC
• Please bring extra warm layers - Kime Hut is cold
• 1 breakfast, 2 lunches, snacks for 2 days
• We will do a shared dinner so you don't need to bring dinner, a billy, or a cooker
• 1 Standard Hut Ticket or a Backcountry Hut Pass

Route plan:

Otaki Forks to Kime Hut for the night. Do some hut cleaning, etc. the next morning. We may pop up to Mt Hector if we feel like it. Then return to our cars the same way we came up. Map here: Kime Hut: Tararua Forest Park, Kapiti region

I'm expecting it to take 6-7 hours to get from the road end to the hut. DOC time is 5-6 hours, but I'm unsure if this includes going over the slip at the beginning, which takes about an hour. 

I expect us to be back in Wellington on Sunday evening around 8:30pm, but this an estimate only. 

Fitness/difficulty:

It will be uphill the whole way, so be prepared for this! I grade this trip at Medium or slightly below: Fitness gradings | VUWTC 

Trip cost:

I expect this to be around $20 per person. It covers group dinner and travel costs. We will sort out the exact cost after the trip.

Trip capacity:

Kime Hut has 20 bunks so I would be happy to take 12 people if three people can bring cars!