Mountain House - Bannister Tracks Working Party

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MOUNTAIN HOUSE - BANNISTER TRACKS WORKING PARTY This trip was very well sup- A. was heard to question, "but ported, indeed there were 7 com- doesn't the track go this mittee way?" members, it must surely What Bill and Les had not seen, of have been an easy trip; the party course, was Lloyd and his party consisted of: hush-push back on to the track Chief Guide (Leader) Hall and further up. Laugh! we nearly Mrs. Chief Guide, Dave Catchpole, died. Dot, John Nixon. Peter Davies, To stop any further straying Heino (Robin Hood complete with John has erected a wall with all bow and arrow) Lloyd, Marilyn our trimmed bush which was (a very charming and pretty addi- promptly called "Armstrong's tion to the club and, ironically Wall." enough she works for Forestry De- Arriving at Mountain House partment), Bill Harvey, Geoff, about 1.30 p.m., lunch was, taken Charlie, Ivan, D. Morris, accom- followed by a chatter and cheek, panied by his chief clown and back- the girls taking a trip to Powell, chatter-Sisley, John A., Ted (vice) the blokes assisting to blaze a sidle Dakin, another John M.-a fairly track to the eastern side of Pig newcomer. Flat from Mountain House to just To those who didn't know us so above the turn-off to Totara Flats. well at the start; you can rest as- This was achieved in the usual T. sured they were almost sick of us and M. style, i.e. with the maxiat the end. mum amount of noise and chaos We left the station promptly and the minimum amount of effort. (9.15)-headed towards the Hutt However, we had a few laughs and to pick up various waifs who'd quite a good track was put through. been thrown out of home for the We knocked off about 4.30 and week-end. Well, we've go to make we had just arrived at the hut and the truck pay, haven't we? to say the rain "tipped" down was Arriving at Featherston with just a rumour, the rain was some quickly various coloured members we followed by the Chief Guide's party all partook of odd tit-bits and took -in other words, all the showers off again arriving at Bannister arrived at once!! about 12 midnight. In between this and dinner a Now this is what I call tramping. very amusing game was on The played truck driving right up to the the seat before the fire - -there behut door and all we had to do was ing more than enough bottoms pick up the packs and roll out than there were seats, we (the sleeping bags and, bingo, we were males) made the acquaintance of all asleep. Poor old G.C. and Marilyn. She's still not sure what's Nixon went to sleep in the sum- in store for her! mer house. Morris and Sisley, always with By 9 o'clock Saturday morning an eye to business, the other eye all the party were under way; on their stomachs, loaned their Graeme, Dudley, Heino, Geoff, and primus and billy out for the price Peter went on to clear the Totara of a cup of tea or coffeewe made Flat-Mountain House track, while the choice, naturally. Taddy John and Les just about Dinner was served in his best created a four lane highway just "Ritz" style by the editor, as somebelow Pig Flat. At this point it one remarked, it reminds me of was rather amusing because Bill when "father painted the parlour" and Les (has this bloke ever done Tribute. however, must be paid to anything right yet?) had been the cooks and Dudley's prowess as given orders "to clear the way stoker or, as Geoff said, Scouts are ahead." Having seen the remain- not what they are to-day! ing party go straight ahead the Everyone climbed into their logical assumption was that the sacks and surprisingly enough track went that-a-away also. Having started to sing -when this subsided cut about 3 or 4 yards along, John Nixon still wanted to talk.

Sunday arrived to what at first