Putangarua Pinnacles

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PUT-NGARUA PINNICLES. Leader a LaurieNoilson. On Saturday, 19tho February,12 of us piled into the truck at the Stetion at 9a,m. and stronghtoned our number to 18 at Patone and the Hutt. We arrived at Palliser Bay at 1p.m. and although the westher forecs.st wasn't too promising wo managed to get the tents up and a brow and food into us before the rain errived. Most of us decidod to view the Pinnacles, rain or no rcin, so we set off up the valley, helf nn hour seeing us at the foot. The Pinnacles re-lly were impressive with their unusual foruations and odd shapes and sizes a somothing rether new to most of us and it didn't take much imngination to suggost lions and faces and whatnot. aS we went on up the Way got narrower and mud'ior with a particularly sticky sort of mud making it quite sn offort to got to tho top * one stop up, two back, sort of thing, However, the last most slippory pert wa.s cventuelly scaled with quite an Rccumuletion of Putangarua mud on hends and boots. e did not stay long at the top as with tho mist the view WPS r-ther disappointing so WO came down the next valloy nnd so back to cemp. By this time the rein had stopped, the sun was out, and thare was promise of good wonthor for the rost of the weckend. + walk round to 11// the point grve us a good viow of a beautiful sunset, tho Orongo's nCross the bry end "Tappy" to the South. ie came back to camp literally sterving and quite rendy for A honlthy helping of stew. afterwards we sat talking round the fire and sono stayed up to soe the moon riso over the hills. Sunday damned banutifully cleer end with Laurie rising at Taom. to light the fire and prepere 2 huge billy of porridgo with only he, Graham and I to ent it - no-one else liked porridge. (Maybe it wa.s Laurie's brand of porridge. - Ed.) By 9aom. most were out of CEmDs Ivy end Molly to exploro the coast; Thelma and Betty to do a spot of climbing ovar the way3 Max and co. to visit their "own private pinnecles" and Laurio, Graham and I to once more view the pinnacles proper. Seen at leisure and minus mud I found them much moro interesting and the viow from the top WRS well worth the second trip, and I know I came down with thet lovely feoling of having seon something spocial. Back to camp through the neighbouring farmor's property, lunch, a swim in cold Pallisor Bay and thon once moro, back to the city and work. Joy Parsons.