D34 Comet hut to Taruarua biv

Its a typical Kaweka/Ruahine morning, a few spots of rain but enough wind behind it that it never really hits the ground.
Leaving the hut i take the track towards Shutes, the sign's been removed but its obvious being the only track from the carpark. It passes mainly through contotra with a bit of kanuka scrub. There's a fair bit of snow damage, but i was expecting it from my experience with contotra in the Kaweka. It start with a 200m climb to Komata(1083), my last Kaweka peak.
From here it's a very easy 2km along a flat, broad ridge, there's a small stand of beech before returning to the ugly pines. It opens into kanuka scrub for the descent to the Taruarua river, its a reminder of the drop to Cameron, and its nicknamed 'Hell Hill', tho its not as steep, dropping 700m to the river. Theres a good campspot just before the river and two tents explain the cars at the carpark. Like the Ngaruroro, the Taruarua cuts through the range and must be crossed, its smaller and is an easy knee deep cross.
The river marks the boundary between the Kaweka and Ruahine forest parks, and the rain begins on cue as i enter the latter. The track to Shutes is not visable from the river but obvious when found, it starts off with a short climb before siddleing a small stream to Shutes. The vegetation in the first bit is unusual, a few sparsely populated kanukas, with open grass underneath.
  Shutes hut is 'historic', built by rabbiter Alex Shute in the 1860's. Its constructed from stone and concrete, the cement carried over the hill from big hill station. There's been a new roof added by doc, but otherwise it keep its original design. A thick log book dates back to '85, and its only half full. The rain stops as i leave.
The climb back up to the tops is gentler than the descent but it goes on and on. It starts off a very well maintained track through mature kanuka, climbing continously and seems never ending untill it opens out into a series of clay pans which are followed to the top, all ups its an 800m climb from the river. Once onto the tussock tops of the Ruahine main range, the wind takes on a different league. Its difficult to stay up right and at times i fail. Im blown meters off track, but thankfully the ridge is broad so there's room for error. It starts off in my favour, blowing me uphill as if it were flat, tho at the high point i change direction and it becomes perpendicular.
I consider the turn off to Diannes hut, in a sheltered valley, but not wanting to loose hard gained altitude i carry on to the biv. Taruarua bivvy is located 5 mins down a spur on the west, its in a patch off beech, providing partial shelter from the wind.
Like Studholme Bivvy, its a small 2 man hut, just shorter than head height. A common feature in alpine areas, they're like orange dog boxes on the hillside, and they all look just the same. Last time i was here there was a sheltered fireplace outside, but thats gone and been replaced with a large wooden table. On it's side however that table makes an excellent wind break, and coupled with a hole dug with the hatchet, it the safest and most efficient fire yet, despite the gales.