Alert Level 2: Fresh air and steep hills

Needs to be said - anyone experiencing flu-like and/or respiratory symptoms or having a flatmate/housemate experiencing the above please take a week off! Starting at Silverstream/Whakaehu car park we'll head upstream - plenty of opportunity for wet feet on this one! Taking the more direct route on the western side of Silver Stream, we'll eventually cross back over the stream and head up Racemans to the Little Coal Creek Junction. Shifting to a lower gear, and calling upon our hiking skills, we head up Little Coal Creek Track to the trig at the top of Steve Amies Track. We'll enjoy the roller-coaster ride down Steve Amies, but take the sharp descent down to McRaes Weir. Tunnel Track has received much love from the Green Hut Track group and we'll enjoy the clear, unimpeded route up and over a small hill and down to Flagstaff-Whare Flat Road. All that remains is a fast transit back down the road and to the car park. Estimated distance of 13.5 km and about 700-odd metres of total ascent. Weather is predicted to be a little damp. Plenty of bush coverage on this one, except for the final two kilometres down the road.