Bannister - Walls

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BANNISTER - WALLS. Narch 11/13th. Al long with the Weiohine Gorge party of 7, 17 others crowdod the truck. They were Betty Browstor, Betty Evans, Joy Parsons, Rod Milne (Leader), Trev Walsh, Bill Rice, Barrie O'Donnell, Tom Lawton, Leigh Hart, Ian Hindmarsh, Wesley Secker, Jack Liversage, Albert Turney, Mike Reddington, Ron Fokerd, Athol Geddes and Terry Moore. Arriving at Bannister. Hut 12 of us bedded down outside and laughed as the Gorge Party headed off for Powell, Tom and Leigh started off for Mountain House and Mike, Athol and Ron went off on their shooting trip. We hear that Mike is in need of glasses - what's Donnolley Flat like boys? The night, after threatening efforts et rain over the Rimutakas, was serenely starlit as we dropped off to sleep. At 7 the next morning B ill and I got up to cook breakfast. The porridge was called everything from porridge (by the cooks) to concrete and glue (by the noncooks) - certainly it was thick = it took two of us to stir it and whon cooked the stirring stick stood upright in the contre of the billy without a tremor. It wasn't burnt though! About 9.35 the other ten pushed off with Bill and I folloving ten minutes later and catching them on Gentle Annie. At the Totara Flats turn-off we stopped for a. spell and food then while the others went on to Totara Flats, Bill, Barrie and I went. on up to Mountein House leaving our packs at the trun-off. On the way it started raining and when we arrived we found Tom and Leigh in possession. They hnd been up Holdsworth with the Gorge Party and were then on their way to Totara Flats. The weather was now pretty bad and they told us it was very cold on top, so as we were only clad in ordinary shirts and shorts we decided to turn back with them. Before pulling out Tom suggested a brew- great bloke Tom - and he got thcir primus going. A littlo later we had visitors in the form of a woman and three children who hed been at Bannister the previous night. They seemod to have lost Papa - actually he turned up about half an hour later having taken the Totera Flats track - he was short-sighted too! We lit a fire for the newcomers and then dried ourselves by it. By this time tha weather was clearing; blue sky appeared in gradually largor patches; so back on the original trip after talking Tom and Leigh into going up again. At Powell WG found Phil Boswell, Bub Wadhems and tmoother Hasterton Y.M. boys so we stayed for some time talking and rending the Visitor's Book. Finally we thought we'd better get cracking so off agein a I don't know why the boys Wanted a track on the way to the top of the ridge. At the tarn near the top we stopped for a drink; suddenly we looked up and saw swirls of mist rapidly blotting out our viev, Inmediately we headed for the trig. finishing the climb at a. run. We beat the wist to the trigo but could not see all the Holdeworth-Mitro route although we had excellent views of the Main Range and Wincheombe Ridges; Crawford flanked by Nichols Knob and Junction Knob rising against the sky; Kahiwiroa, .okaparangi and Maungahuka looking formidable - too formidable. We stopped on top for some time while Leigh waited to photograph the ridge to Mitre but we were finally getting too cold so turned down to Powoll again. Some wa.y down we looked back and yes, the mist ofcourse had cleared. What Leigh is going to do to Hughie when he catches up to him is nobody's business. Hand me the bread knife! We jolted down to Powell Hut where Bos and Co. gave us a brew. Just before we left the family, complete with kids, arrived from the Mountainlouse. They had left a billy on for us so we left promptly and jolted some more down the track, stopping fairly close to Mountain House to gather woodo On arrival we had the brew also a. late lunch. Late lunch is the word, the time was 4.30 p.m. After eating solidly for some time until we had finished Tom's and Leigh's food we went on to the turn-off and climbed back into our packs leaving the turn off at 5.45. Off down the track and so Totara Stream and then the Waiohineo Tom had a great time down Totara Stream looking for Totaras, he reckons it should be called Rimu Stream. Wo arrived across the river just as some of the boys came down to look for us at 7.15p.m, At the Hut we found the others had their stew already cooked. They had had a pleasant trip down andword well settled in. We turned down their offer of stew, cooking our own and then feeling pleagantly hungry when it was ready. So to bed, the Holdsworth contingent sleeping out on a. beautiful night leaving the others - to the rats etc. On Sunday some of us went uprriver to look for the Gorge Pertyo It was very pleasant at the start of the Gorge. Brilliant sunshine, hardly any wind and fairly werm water all helped. Bill, Barrie, Tom, Leigh and I went up for some distance and then sumbathed for a time. We also watched some goats and a deer on the shingle slides a the shooters had just gone back down the river. Do animels smell the rifles? At 12.30 there was still no sign of the others so we went back to Totara Flats, collecting Rod on the way. We left at 2.35 while the truck was supposed to go out at 4.30 - we were thankful that the rest of the party had gone out during the morning and so would hold the truck. The perty beceme somethat strung out by the time we reached the cradle over the river but we all eventually arrived at the truck where the girls had a brew on. Boy did I need that brew! Phil and Bruce fror the Gorge Party were the last arrivals. They missed the turn off the road down to Walls and were careering happily (?) around the countryside on the opposite of the river from the truck. At long last we got away at 8.30 with a stop at Featherston for refreshments where we also saw the Tararua Northern and Bannister Crossing people out late. In spite of the late arrival home we all agree it was a good weekend - certainly the Holdsworth contingent enjoyed themselves. T.M.