Ngatiawa - Kapakapanui - Maymorn

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NGATTAWA KAPAKAPANUI : a MAYNORN 24.15.16 September, At 10 pom, one Friday night about twelve Hutt Valleys and six T.& M's piled out of a truck at the end of tho Ngatiara Road, sniffed the cold misty weather and moved off down to the River flats. There our Hutt Valley friends pitched their tents while WC T. : M.'s not being equipped with such refinements, looked in vain for the fabled wonlshed, We had a chat to the local farmer and after telling us that-his prorrty did. NO2 sport a woolshed, kindly offered us a cup of tea and the use of his garage for the night, along with a bale of hay to spread over the concrete floor, Wu all apnreciated his generous hospitality. As his son was out for the evening with the car ve took the precauticn of closing the carage doors. In the micale of the night we were awakened by someone "yelling" that the garage was full of bodies! Two heads appeared at the doors and after a lot of chucking WO were left in poace. Saturday morning dawned bright and sunny and ve vere off to an 8,15 a.m, start. The Hutt Valleys who kmew the way were in the lead, Five minutes a long the river flats brought us to the junction of the two branches of the river, with the long ridge to the top running up between them, Up ve went -- straight up. For the first' ten minutes or so there was no out track, You see the track evidently starts about a couple of hunared yards up the left hand branch of the river (travelling upstream). Contrary to expectations, a good track took us through pleasant bush for three quarters of the climb, but the least s aid about the last 600 feet the better, Windfalls have crashed across the track and it is fairly hard to discern. Here it is well to remender that the track sticks to the top of the ridge all the way upo It was at this point that we were run orer by the Kapakapanui Express in the form of Don Jeffs and Bill White, whn, being unable to catch the truck on Friday night had left Wel llington early on Saturday morning and had climbed three-quarters of the way up in the remarkable time of Chree-quartera of an hour, and they were both GOING LIKE BOMBS. About 400 feet from the top the track runs through open snow-grass with very few markers. Kapakopanui itself is a big bald bump and the ridge at this point is not very well defined, When travelling in the opposite direction, following the track down through the snow, grass could be a bit tricky here. and a compass direction might aid navigation, Here it was that we were treated to a snow shower while the sun nas still shining brightly. Some place this.

At approxima: ately noon, in the heat of the midday sun, I collapsed in an untidy heap a longside the Trig.(Iast man up). I must have looked pre tty hacgard as one bigstrong extra curly T. & M, came and stowed some of my gear into his pack - and I am not referring to my food supply either. I was raying the penalty of fonr months inactivity. The view was tremendous and many photos,were taken. Dropping off the top through the snow grass to the bush edge was simply a matter of following discs and snow poles. The shade of the bush gave welcome relief and the track continued to descend steeply into a deep saddle. A sharp look out for orange discs is helpful here as theridge running down into the saddle is not very prominent. The sadale was choked with windfalls but the track improved considerably further on, Imagine the commotion that was caused when the Hutt Valleys, who were leading, lost the track, Then, a big tough T - and M-- stepped forward and led them out. TrT From the saddle, the track rises steeply at first and.then undulates through fairly open bush in a big sweep around to the Chilly Creek turnoff where a sign proclaims "Akatarawa Road 31 hours" : or something, I have heard that this route is hard to follow owing to windfalls (ask "ary Hall). We ignored this sign and followed the ridge until we reached the Maymorn Turnoff about 15 minutes latèr. Ten minutes. tramping along the Renata Ridge brought us to enata Hut at 5.15 p.m, after nine hours of fairly easy travelling with plenty of spells, That evening at the hut there was much loose talk concerning "Hutt Valley Scum-de-ay" and "Evil Tongue and Meats". Absolutely no lack of entertainment at all which included a minor flood in the sleeping uarters, and Ihesitate to say, the sight of two H.V. boys inside the, one sleeping bag, Prersure cookers etc. may have thcir merits but I think they carry some of their weight - reducing ideas to extremes. Sunday - well, just like all,Sundays at Renata Hut, except that this ono was fine, A lazy trip out via the Meymorn Ridge, a brew up at Frances Creek and then a clean up at Gloustonville. A good trip and a good gang that inc luded sundry Hutt Vallcys and Don Jeffs (Leader) Geoff Cary Brian Cropp, Bill Harvey, Bill White, two Paua boys and Lloyd Vilkin. - a L.lie and I tell. you, if you have the desire for knowledge and the power to give it physical expression, go out and explore. If you are a brave man you will do nothing, if you are fearful you may do much, for none but cowards have need to prove their bravery" A.CherryGerard "The Worst Journey in the World"

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