Ruahine snow plodders Dave Henwood, Tony Gates, Alistair Millward, and Derek Sharp crossed the central Ruahine Range, from Rangi Hut to Howletts Hut — without skis. They found lots of the deep, soft stuff, and very little cramponable ice. Difficult travel on “the cheval pitch” east of Te Hekenga (1695 m) was made easier when crampons could bite into the steep rock and snow. They report a new fire box at Howletts Hut, with a chimney that glows red hot when coal is burnt in it!