Middle Crossing - Anniversary Weekend

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MIDDLE CROSSING. Anniversiry Weekend. Friday night found us aboard the Whakahaere truck bound for Otaki Forks with the intentinn of doing a Midcle Crossing. Reaching the cottage we decider to 30 on for another/and sleep on the tramway track. Noon next Pay found us at Waitewlewac, where we Sgread out our sacks whilst waiting f-r the stew to cook and alternately jumped in the river to cool off and lie in tho sun to warm up. This went cn all afternoon till finally at 5.20 p.m. we decidud to make a start. Wo had cunningly docided to leave the climb up onto Junction Knob until the crol f the evenins, but when night fell and we lost the track we docided to camp in the leatherwocd. Next morning in the saccle between Shoulder Knob and Junction Knob we were relieved to find a small tarn from which to quench our thirst. This would make a good campsite as our spot in the bush WiS quite waterless.After pausing to photograph the Main Range, we climbed onto Juncti-n Knob and alns the Main Range to a point marker 4,360 ft. From here we cropped into the Waiohine intending to follow the spur up onto Isabelle. We reached the slip marked on the map and carried on till wO reached what we assumed must be Francis Creek. After 3 brew we continued on down stream and then started climbing, but soon found we were on a spur leading to Angle Knob instead of Isabelle. Lock king back on the strean we had just duscended, it looked more like a waterfallthan a stream. That night we camped by a small tarn in a sadcle between Shingle Slip Knob and angle Knob. Next morning in mist and rain, we ascended Angle Knob and by C ontinued reference to map and compass we reached Jumbo, nd here the trouble began. The next two hours were Spent in trying to finc the route off Jumbo. We eventually followed a ridge running due East which should have led us into the Atiwhakatu. At the bushline we found two prominent cairns. This was the start of what the notice Joard kroclaimed was "Spooner's Track" which eventually lec us to Bunnister Hut. Towards the end of the afternoon I went on nhos to try and catch the truck but missed by 20 minutes. Fancy missing by twenty minutes after a three day trip. Our arrival in Masterton was by way of a light truck thanks to the generosity of Some unknown person. From here we proceeded to Wellington on the 8.13 p.m. bus. Abricged 1 Ed.