Levin : Kaitoke

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LEVIN : KATTOKE. Three Club members, Stan Kinder, Dennis O'Neill and Max Martin were feeling very energetic after their Christmas Trip to Lake Rotoiti and here is their account of what they did to while the time away. - Ed. Setting off for Levin on the 5.47 train we arrived in time to eat and enjoy our last meat meal for five days. Taking a taxi to the Pipe Bridge we arrived at Adkins Cottage and bedded down in the Store Shed there. Next morning we sampled the hospitality of the farmer and his wife (who turned over their kitchen and dining room to us) and then set off for Ohau Hut with rain threatening; however we reached the Hut without the need of our parkas. The next two hours were spent in crossing and re-crossing the Ohau River to South Ohau Hut which was reached about the same time as a thunder storn. After lunch andthe inevitable brew we made off up Yeates Track to To Mntawai Hut where our appearance was quite a surprise to Marie and Terry seeing they had seen me in town three days before whon no word of this enterprise had oven been thought of. Marie was hoping to be the first to do the Main Range in brogues. Our intention next day was to go from Te Matawai to North King on the Mitre - Holdsworth Route via a Northern Crossing but on hearing the woather forecast at 9p.m. on Terry's portable the decision to stay put and just do a Northern starting later in the day was made. After sleeping late we again listened to the weathor forecast and as the report was much more favourable wo decided to crash on as soon as possible on our original trip. After a hurried breakfast and a more hurriod packing we set off to stagger up Pukematawai - of which we had heard muchfrom Marie and Terry - and then on up Arete which by this time was complotely enveloped in thick mist. We almost turned back here as the conditions were so bad but with the aid of map and compass we set off again, hoping as we trod through the mist that we were on the right track, Conditions improved as we pressed on and as tho Waiohine Pinnacles were negotiated the sun deignod to shine. These pinne.cles. although at the time we thought thom difficult, offered no comparison to the Broken Axe Pinnacles which we crossed the next day. Ahead lay Tarn Ridge and our camp for the night but on arrival we docided to go on to Girdlestone and so shorton the next day as there was still plenty of daylight left. We made camp by the Dorset Ridge Tarn inperfect weather with a beautiful sunset as a ba.ckground to our activities. The night was fine and mild and we awoke refreshed and ready for woht was to be quite a heavy day. We sidled Girdlestone and then made our way on to the Three Kings. From South King the Brokon Axe Pinnaclos looked overy bit their namesake and after we had spent throo hours crossing them we had called them many things - none of which Terry will publish for us. It was here that we decided all trempers should heve a knowledge of rock climbing. Lunch wa.s eaten on McGregor, once again in a world of our own with the view totally obscured, but as the track at this stage was much better we were not worried. Although the mist hung low we were able at times to catch glimpses of the country about us a out to the coastline and Kapiti a Levin on the one side and the flat pastures of the Wairarapa on the other. From this point we dodged in and out of mist onto Angle Knob then Jumbo and then the last stago to Holdsworth Trig, where a wind reaching gale force made conditions anything but pleasant. The way down to Powell Hut was like passing through an alpine garden with a profusion of Eidelweiss, Mountain Daisy and many other varicties of mountain flowers. At Powell a welcome cuppa was provided by two young shooters whom I feel did not believe our story, true though it was, of having seen 60 deer all withing range, between Lancaster and Jumbo. After stew and a chat round the fire we crawled into the sack and, save for Stan reading comics, (the Shooter's- do thoy all carry them?) were soon asleep. Ne ct morning in bright sunshine we jerred down to Hountain House thonce via Pig Flat to the new Totara Flats Hut where wO stopped for lunch and a brow, which you will agree played an important part in our activitics. On down through Totara Flets, up and ovor Cone Saddle (Oh what R. graunch) to Cone Hut for a munch at Service biscuits then on to Tauwheronikeu Hut whero we were entertained by the chorus (?) work of threo Teraruc typoso Aftor a late start next morning a call was made at Smiths Creck whore we stopped for lunch and then the hobble out over the Puffor to the P.W.D. Camp for showers. Wo almost ato tho store out of ice cream and thon thumbod a ride back to town. So ended a most enjoyablo five days * hard tremping - but well worth the effort for the views seen - where you could see - and the n ew torritory covered. M. M.