Ruahine Rambles

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BLESO Object: - To walk il anc out of the Ruahines. Apparatus: - Barrie O'Donnell (Leader), Suzanne Harrison, Hazel Jordan, Harold Stretton, Dennis Allison, Frank McGowan, John heeler, Fred McCauselard. Time: - Thur day, April 10th, 1952, 9 Pollo - Monday, April 14th, 11 pome iet od: - C left elling on a little later than anticipated. However, A did have our food end a leader, and after one or two stops arrired at Palmerston Northo Thorch we knew where we wanted to go, we weren't slie where we were goinge le stoped and started, and stopped for good at 5.15 aomo Friday morningo Poor cooks a hey cooked while we slepto The situation at 6.45 aomo was breakfast at the foot of the track leading to the Waipowa Saddle. The shooting party had left and Phil's party were just wakinge Our route lay up the vaipawa River, which Was easy river-bed travel. Lunch at the foot of the Waipawa Sadale and then upwardso A scheduled halt at the top and a magnificent view down to Napiero le watched with interest, a large party from the Heretaunga Tramping Club following in our footstepse We met and spoke with them on the Saddle and then continued over it and down the Waikamaka Stream to the Heretaunga Tramping Club's huto Very auickly a large fireplace appeared (the first of many) and Wo T.&Mo Co on the tents proclaimed the occupants. Food and sleep were at an extraordinarily early hour. We were off next day at 8.30 aolo up the Waikamaka Stream, over the Saddle and down into Rangi Creeko We had been playing leap-frog with the Heretaunga Club till now, but since we were satisfied as to the nunber in their party, we moved down Rangi Creek to where it joins the Lawhatau Rivers A short way up the Kawhatau River, we stopped for lunch and it was here that Frank first roaredo Out came a stag to within 100 feet of us and of course all cameras were at the bottom of our packso On then to Tussock Creek, where we dropped our packs and by sundry routes attempted to reach Paemutu to reconnoitre the next day's travel. Mist coming down, prevented all but the first two from seeing anythingo Back down shingle slides to

Tussock Creek whero we estiblished camp and cooked the dehydo stew a little longer this timeo Up anchor nezt dny about ten to nine and well up Tussock Creek to a spur leading on to Paemutuo Some keen photographers went over Paemutu but the lr3s artistic sidled round on to the ridgeo Mist prevented any very comprehensive view until we reached the saddle between Paemutu and Ohuingao There we boiled up and slept in the sunshine amidst a barrage of cameraso We left our packs in the Sadale and climbed on to Ohuinga where we had an cxcellent view of the surrounding rangéo The choice of route lay between Black Ridge, leading off Ohuinga and thence down Government Spur, o? following the tributary stivam leadirg Irom the Saddle into Tukituki Rivero The choice fell to the 1 tter route and so off from Ohuinga into the Sudle. Packs up and down the streamo There had been no rain for some time, otherwise the route rould have been almost impracticable. Even so, it was no light matter. The stream had cut deeply into the surrounding hills and waterfalls hindered our progress. One forced us to climb very high to circumvent ito No suitable camping site had yet been found and at five o'clock, the valley vas still very narrowo Just on six, however, we found a suitno.e spot, and so, in fast approaching darkness, we made campo A very comfortable camp this time, with two floorso ihe bottom river flat was a kitchen and communal room and the next flat up, bedrooms. Late that night we ate an even longer cooked dehydrated stew around another of Frank's enormous fires - and so to bedo Speculation on our position down the stream was confirmed and by 11 o'clock next day we were on the main bed of the Tukituki River. We followed down its wide bed to within 15 minutes of Mill Farm, where we met two deer stalkers from Wellingtone They hadn't seen a thing but we had. Only at this stage were we sure of how much extra food we all had broughto By 1.30 it was in us, and we were on our way to Mill Farmo Two o'clock saw us at the appointed place and ready for the truck to pick us up when it came. It didn't, and at 4 o'clock we decided it was time to go down the road and meet it, Six o'clock saw us six miles down the road telephoning the local policeo At 6.30, the truck arrivedo It had run off the road into the mud The other parties had spent an interesting four hours trying to get it outo And so anidst the dust we pieced together relevant and irreverent facts on our Ruahine Rambles. Fred McCauseland.