Northern Crossing

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NURTHERN CROSSING. February 24/26th. Sunshine can be enjoyable, but after a 200 foot slog onto the top of 5154foot Mitre, when the temperature is 80 degress or more, it's not quite so goodo Friday night came at the end of a fine week and by 8 o'clock we were well on the way to the Pipe Bridge. The party, consisted of Dick Noble, Nick Jennings, K. (no relation) Hall, Stan Kinder and Graeme Hall. From the bridge we anbled through to Ohau to find Phil Gardner in residence, and there, without further incident, retired for the night. Siturday dawned with the weather-man in doubt, he wasn't the only one though, Johnny Robinson couldn't make up his nind what to do either. After breakfast, with some pushing, the mob got under way at ton to eight, and paddled up a very low river in a pleasant hour and a quarter. Up the Yeates 600 and on to Te Matawai for a spell where people argued and sorted thenselves out. On the way up Pukenatawai I heard several folk renark that the track was due for a working party. I also saw Stan write their names in his little book. From the top we could nake out the summits of Egmont and Ruapehu standing up above the clouds. Lunch was the next item, So we noved off to the Arete Canpsite. There we ate and waited, and ate, but at 2.45, although nost of the Bannister gang hadn't showed up, I got ny slaves in motion, toward the Waiohine Pinnacles. The party spread out a littie about here, however there was no hurry and Dick, Nick and I ( sone yards bohind) looked at the scenery! The Southern-most tarn on the ridge was almost dry and tasted vile but we set up canp by the rocky outcrop, and after a "Sports Meeting" on the tarn bed, we cooked up a hash and retired for the eveningo If Saturday was good, Sunday was perfecto The brecze which was blowing when we left the camp at 8a.mo soon dropped and tho sin blazed forth from a cloudless sky. By the time we passud the Dorset Ridge Junction the heat was telling So we all dropped down about 100 feet on the North side of the ridge to a stream, and drank deeplyo The final struggle up on to Girdlestone was eventually overcome and after more viewing of the views, on we went to Mitre, where Stan produced a tin of pineapple! More pressing on, downwards this time for a change 9 with the sun getting hotier every moment we were on the open slopes above the bush. In the bush WG travelled for some distance on the track, but, as is normally expected, we took the "short cut" to the river. A brew and some tucker at Mitre Flats and not long after us Barrie's party arrived. A combined Bannister and Northern party set off down the river and in the warm sun the swimning was really enjoyable. In fact several new menbers for the "Swimning Section" were discovered. At the Pines we anused ourselves with eating, helping some fishernen and ended up playing softball - cun - debate while waiting for everyone to arrive. G. Ho