D52- Andersons memorial hut to Mangahuka hut

The Tararua's are back to their usual self- gales and clag. From Andersons the ridge line stays below the tree line for 2km. One back into open country im hit by the real force of tge the weather. The wind whipped and the rain came again. Im frequently cluthing onto clumps of tussock to prevent being blown off the ridge.
About half way i pass the junction to Aokaperangi hut, i consider the half hour detour for a break from thr weather but it would only prolong the misery. It soon becomes the worst conditions I've walked in. Im wearing every layer I've got but despite the exertion im still loosing heat. I cant fight the wind any more and end up siddleing the shelterd easten side through thick leatherwood scrub. I fall waist deep into a tarn i couldn't see through the mist. Something looks unusual at the far end, i don't realise what it is untill i just about walk straight into Mangahuka hut. Mangahuka's reasonably flash, and has been recently built/replaced( they don't last long up here). There's 10 bunks a large deck and a tank but it misses one critical aspect- a fire. Being at 1330m, there'd  be nothing to burn even if you did fancy your chances at getting a fire going outside. Im not too worried about cooking with enough dry food to eat, more of a concern is not being able to dry out soaked clothing. By the time i reach the hut im shivering uncontrollably, its 2pm but theres nothing realy to do but crawl into the sleeping bag to keep warm. With the amount of people that snuff it from hypothermia around here, a coal fire would be nice. I wake up 6 hrs later and not suprisingly can't sleep through the night.