Trampers Delayed (from the 1948 newsletter)

This text was read by OCR from a scanned newsletter and has not been proofread yet, so expect odd characters and mistakes.

"Bad weather delayed a party of trampers who made a Northern Crossing of the Tararuas during King's Birthday Weekend. Instead ofr returning to Wellington last night, QS had been planned, the party is not expeeted back until late this afternoon." Evening Post, 8 June 1948 This trip WOS led by Walla Hobbs as advertised and not by Athol Roberts as reported, and comprised, besides these two, Jim Dawson, Snow Williams, Peter Wood, Peter MeMillan and Tom Lawton. This was a first scheduled Northern Crossing for the Club and its success in stormy conditions is a matter for congratulation. The party shared a truck with the Tararua Club to the Pipe Bridge and made Ohau Hut at 8om. Saturday they went up a very cold Ohau, up Yeates' 600 to Te Motawai where they stayed the night rather than camp out on Tarn Ridge in the not very promising weather. They left at 6om Sunday for the actual crossing in weather that they describe OS "not as bad as Monday's" - sleet and whatnot on Pukematawai, gremlins on the Woiohine Pinnacles, lunch on Tarn Ridge, more gremlins on Girdlestone. Mitre WaS successfully crossed, but at Peggy's Peak in dusk with fresh snow falling, the party took the left instead of the right ridge and were forced to camp out. In spite of burnt cocoa - Peter Wood's effort - and very cramped quarters seven in an 8x6 tent - they survived and set off on Monday in ice, sleet and snow - hair and eyelashes in icicles. Arrived at Mitre Flats Hut; with a drop of Terry's Meal inside, they left for the Pines and a brew at Mr Palmer's - mony thanks. They reached Masterton at ten at night and had to woit for transport back on Tuesday to Wellington - 2.30pm. An adventurous though enjoyable weekend if we are to believe them.