The Holiday That Really Wasn't!

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THE HOLIDAY THAT REALLY WASN'T! 18th/25th July "I've never been so miserable - 1 feet of powder snow was encountered in triplicate. and three hours later we were in wet bush with six inches of snow on the Saturday, July 18th, 1959.-Broke ground. In fading light, about 500ft off contact with civilisation at Mas- above a waterfall (at the top of a terton Trust Hotel. sidle) we camped. We crawled into Discovered we could actually walk our sacks with what dry clothing with our packs, although it took all we had, cooked some hot food on a three of us to each member of primus, warmed up-and immethe party on to feet. diately moisture Fet Progress to fert freezing drip- Mitre Flats was punctuated with un- ping through the tent fly and seeping countable rest pauses, each followed through our sleeping bags. We lay by the inevitable grunting and groan- and froze and shuddered and shivering as we heaved ourselves and 80lb ed. Our conversation was monotonous, packs off the ground. Pines to Mitre "T've never been so à miser- Flats took (oh! the humiliation) six able!" Cigarettes every two hours -repeat six-hours. and barley sugar in between. (What Sunday-Rest day. a combinationl-Ed) We didn't Monday-Enforced rest day, wea- dare sleep, not entirely because ther un-co-operative. of the fear that we'd "die from exposure", but because of the general Tuesday- Nine hours to Dorset stiffness (if not rigidity) which Ridge Hut. Some snow and an occa- would have resulted. sional step had to be cut; balance Eventually, after several eternities, lousy with the weight we were carry- dawn arrived. We chewed some dates, ing. About twenty rounds fired for put boots on, packed essentials one deer. and plodded on our way. The tent fly, if Wednesday (a.m.)-Organising the anybody wants it, is still there, as hut, shooting and photography. Four it was not classed as "essential". deer, so plenty of meat. (p.m.) Mist Some two hours later we were still came down and by nightfall snow not certain where we were and were was falling steadily. talking in terms of "another six to Thursday--Snow. Activities were eight hours to Mitre Flats"-and three-handed "500" and as little time then, blessed relief, we stumbled out out of the sack as possible. We did on to the Waingawa river bed. manage to brave the cold to cook. About an hour later Mitre Flats Hut was full of dripping clothing. We Friday-Same as Thursday. ate every scrap of food we had left, Saturday Still snowing, but packed and headed for the Pines. primus fuel running low, so we were We got back to the car just on dark, away. Full storm gear, including long donned our one dry garment each, woollen undies, swandries, parkas, sat back with a sigh of relief, and mitts, etc. Soft snow about thigh found the confounded machine would deep Dorset Ridge. Powder snow not go. and Neh winds all the way, to Eventually, from the nearest farm, Girdlestone and from there on blizz- telephonic communication was made ard conditions. The eastern side of with the A.A., followed by a tow into the ridge to Brockett was getting the Masterton. Two hours later we were full blast of the southerly and was on our way. The automobile misextremely icy. The west side was behaved again on the way home, but sheltered but the snow was waist all members of the party were in deep. We alternated between the two. bed 3.30 a.m. Monday. "Never By the time we reached Brockett we have bY been so miserable. were completely iced up; it had taken The idiots were John Boyd, George us three hours.of very hard work to Middleditch and Nick Jennings. get there. So with the help of the NICK JENNINGS compass, George led us down into (Editor's Note: Is anybody what, we hoped, was North Mitre to set up a record for trying in Creek. It was. At the scrubline three unusual places?) sleeping