The Northern Cursing (Anniversary Weekend)

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THE NORTHERN CURSING ANNIVERSARY WEEKEND I really don't know why I'm couldn't make up, our minds and the bothering to write this as every one others were quickly catching up at I meet tell me they know about it! a surprising rate. The wretches However, presumably it is wanted had let us go first as they didn't for the official archives and I had, know the way, or, where the bog therefore, better make my story was located. We found it by falling good. into it! Unfortunately for their wicked machinations we managed It all happened on Anniversary to get out of the mire before week-end, which gave us plenty of came along thus, we should have they time to do a tough trip easily-a indicated with our torches that we subject to which I will personally were still walking in the normal refer to again. We were a mixed way and let them come straight on bag on the truck; some Tararuas, in after us, being magnaminious we some W.T. and M.C's, but mostly made all the noise to show where Hutt Valleys. There was also an the bog was. (What a kind-hearted odd bod going to Ruapehu, and for lot the T. and M.'s are!!! Ed.). whom the truck called at Levin. The truck journey was unevent- One person had managed to overful except for the centre form com- take us Merv. the Tararua, and in pletely collapsing much to the dis- order to keep us and not lose the comfort of those who were sitting track again we all switched our on it and those who tried to con- torches on and ran after him. By tinue doing so. the time we reached the bush line he was out of sight, nevertheless, The T. and M.'s were first away we hurried on in the hope that he from the truck and going in good would have slowed down to take in style, managing to use only one air. After about 10 minutes I found torch between them. (I do not re- myself half way up a cliff face, member now who won the weakest informing our leader that as the eyesight test, but, nevertheless, let ground ahead of me was vertical. I me take this opportunity of con- assumed I was off the track! He gratulating him). After passing said: "Aren't you following, Merv?" through the gate by the farm, I nearly told him thtat I was not calamity struck. We were uncertain a relation to a certain air-borne dog, of the way. Did we follow the fence to which he replied: "There's the to avoid a bog or did we follow track down here and over there!" the edge of the terrace? We (Two tracks? Ed..

At this stage a member of the As luck would have it our adparty (Dave B. suffered an injury, vance guard had managed to see caused by supple-jack, which had Arete and with little difficulty we been cut down by the recent track worked our way down to the big working party, leaving spikes stick- tarn. We pitched the tent at the ing out like stockade defences. Dave recognised site, some 50 yards from hit his head against one of these the tarn and towards Tarn Ridge. and before long his otherwise per- We were just thinking of getting spiring trickle changed to a bloody inside when a hail storm broke and mess! Dave has since come to the we heard a far-call. Eventually conclusion that, judging by the way three figures materialised out of the everyone from three clubs sped mist. One of our party, going over him and only offered advice, thave to investigate was told: "Members is no longer any interclub spirit of M.O.B.T.C." wandering around left! where they should not be! The funny thing was, listening to one We arrived at the hut only 20 of the voices I thought it was Bill minutes behind the others, there Bridge, and when he did eventually being six in the wood shed, two come over to us it was in fact said sleeping in the porch, the floor cov- tramper. ered with bodies, the bunks crowded with too many others. Of course Considering there were five men they made out there was no more in a two-man tent, and a thunderroom and even tried ot convince us storm into the bargain, it wasn't by pointing to those on the floor such a bad night!! and those outside, etc. But as all trampers know there is always Next day, the weather still being room for one more and so three of adverse, we decided on a straight us pushed ourselves on to the bunk. Northern, and were more than pleased to see Mitre Flats hut. Next morning we went down to On the the river to cook breakfast (Sinbad Monday we made the the Sailor style, I presume, Ed.) and Pines by 4 o'clock, and as no one then after an uneventful trip with else had turned up, we 'phoned for only a few odd careless bods falling a taxi to take us to Masterton into the river, we duly arrived at where we caught the train for Wel- Te Matewai. Here a problem arose lington. A few miles away. howas one of our number had not man- ever, the truck was waiting for us. aged to keep up and was last seen The others had all done a Bannister cutting slices of bread and butter crossing and had not 'phoned the on Yates 900!! (It gets higher every truck back to Levin as we had contime I do it!) After waiting an jectured. This was the second hour it was decided that Ted would time I had missed the Bannister red delegate his leadership to me and line. and in addition. we paid the that I would go, on with the other extra fare back to Wellington. four who were keen to do a Ban- Ted nister crossing instead of a North- Seeing next day, he wanted ern. I told my companions that to know where we had got tothey were in very, good hands as I apparently done the Hutt Valley's had had done the trip several times Bannister's crossing, too. Ah. previously. (Now there's assurance well, we had played for safety and for you!) It seemed a good idea things there turned out against us so for us all to keep together from is no good complaining. now on so that no more people Those could get lost. Ahout this time John de doing the crossing were: murk began to settle on the tops, Andy and Bruyne, Dion. Dave, George, Bill, and the two fittest were sent on ahead to wait on Pukematawai for the rest of us and make sure of (Signed) getting a glimpse of which way we should go for Arete.