Mount Egmont

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MOUNT EGMONT. Nov. 19/21st. Fifteen of us left Wellington in glorious comfort on our way to North Egmont. Wo were not too optimistic about the weather a it began to rain not very long after our leaving Wollington - but then we had been to Egmont before and knew of its close relationship to the Tararuas as far as its weather is concerned. Long before we picked up Bill Murray at Sanson Cyril retired to the back of the canopy very wet and very sorry for himself. It all goes to show that covers are useful even under cover: We stopped at Lovin and then Wanganui to visit the Pie -Cart and finally pulled up by tho Cottage at Egmont at 3.45a.m. after an excellent trip.... A few of +: us piled out of the truck after Terry had called on Mr. Okey to open the Cottage and set in the dark until a fire was lit. Peter in a savage attack on some wood managed to slice up his shoe and sock and finally toe a we gathered the toe was his least worry! Came the dawn and Egmont smothered in mist down to about 3,500ft. We broakfasted, all exoept Terry: who apparently doesn't like food - and then after we had wekened him he suggested an onslaught on the mountain. With the weather as it was I was quite amused to see fourteen of the party head off up to Tahuranga Hut to look at the snow.-The last ones left at 9.25 in weather that had now clearod somewhat - it was not raining but the mist was vory thoroughly foiling our attempts to obtain a view of anything over a hundred yards away. The arrival at the Hut was made 1+4 hours later after an easy trip up by the last members of the party amidst falling snow a propelled in our diroction by the first comars. We don't think that they were playing fair as they were making mechanised war against us by using shovels. Tho weather was looking a little brighter at this time, there had been no rain since we left the Cottage and the mist seemed to be thinning a little 8 the seven (D6s Manning, Trev Walsh, Rod Milne,

=26- Potor Johnson, Don Langford, Ian Hindmarsh and Terry Moore) who had brought thair."longs" upwith them on/ the off chance of its clearing decided to givalthe climbla go. For the bonefit of those who had not been: on snow, or done much snow work before, the Leader gave a demonstration of glissading, safeing etc. which would have been very helpful to them ell if the snow had co-opernted. Unfortunately the snow was too wet and heavy around the Hutand no effort whatever was required to stop oneself - the snow did it for you in fast time. à brafter struggling into "longs"and eating scroggin etc. we eeventuelly left Tahuranga and made offup the mountain, passing the others on the way. ifter some time we had a small valley to cross and were very interested to seeothe snow crack for about a foot around each new step taken. The new snow (the.heaviest fall of the year) was at a depth then of bout six inches and hed not consolidated on to the harder 9 old snow. We thought that. there was every possibility of the new snow avalanching and so retired off the slope on to a rock outcrop. Here I put on tho rope and whileubelayed by first Trev and then Rod did everything heard and unheardiof-to avalanche sthe slope. I think that Pete, Don and Ian wero a little amazed the first time I went rolling over and over down the slope to isafe myself when the ropo was running out at the bottom. The snow was very hard to slide in still as it would come away in front of you until you were running in B. rut of your own making and pushing the snow out of the rut in front of you until the weight of it became too mush and brought you to a stop. ie went on climbing up after our experiments on the slope were completed until we reached a height of about 7,000ft. The weather was about the seme as before a still plenty of mist, but very little wind and the atmosphere was quite warm. We sat down for a spell and dem cided to turn in the climb as we were still very unsure of the way the snow would re-act higher upo Instead of returning to the Cottage. immedintely we geve oursalves Alpiro Instruction in tholvelleys on the way down. At least we called it Alpine Instruction but it was mainly 10 just plain pleasure. we worked out a dozen different ways to slide dovn the slopes - feet first, head first, on our backs or stoma.chs or shoulders - everyone had their own pet method which naturally was far, far better than any other employed. tlast we landed in the valley where we had received Alpine Instruction on our Kings Birthday weekend trip to Egmont and also found Trevor's rock climb (?) again. NO Here wel steyed for some time, sliding, glissading, jumping off the.outcrop and winding up witha glorious snow fight. Eventually with the pangs of hunger making themsolvesfolt imperatively to my brenkfa.stless stomach we packed up and headed back for the Cottage, tea and food, arriving there about 3.45p.m. On arrival we agreed-that it had been a marvellous day and consoled ourselves for the lost climb with the fact that Egmont seems to be pretty permanent and would be available for us to climb for a few years yet.lf - L 0181 on bof - Vost an tevea ore - 0fa11 a DE

Bill, Merv and Mel came down early and joined Cyril and me for lunch and a tune in to the Now Zealand Cup a what a dey for the punters! Bill and I then cooked tea : and was it good? Aftor toa we rope ired to the Hostel at the invitation of Mr. and Mrs. Curtis for a dance. This dance a cun a party was undoubtebly one of the best I have ever been to. There were a partyoi officers off a bout at New Plymouth also there plus Mackwan's Beor (ronemberbill?); and our good friends 9 Roy, Jack and Ray ("Has anyono seen my silly brother?") who had only come up for tho aftornoon. Laurio has decided we cannot write this up in detail a something to do with tho Constitution - but we have sont our thanks to Mr. and Mrs. Curtis for a grand ovening. Sunday was spent in quiet tremping round the bush tracks, tr-ining for the Marathon, and an e.scont of the Memorial a & party effort, Wo also tried to console Roy who wanted his niece's children to climb Igmont a "up you go to numbers" a who was still slightly worried about the actions resulting from the passing of a bad chequel Le don't believe he had to worry aftor all although we did promiso to holp him chop wood to pay his bill. We left in pouring rain again on Sunday but all feeling that no matter what sort of weather Egmont offers a itse grand spot to spend a weekend. The party was Trev "alsh, Peter Johnson, Marie Marshall, Gyyth Jacquard, Don Langford, Bill Murray, Ivy Legg, Harold Stretton, Des end Mel Manning, Rod Milne, Ian Hindmarsh, Bill Campbell, Hargaret Chapman, Horv Noble and Terry Moore (Leader). Marie Marshall. Terry Moore.