Easter on the Rubble Heap

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EASTER ON THE RUBBLE HEAP bank, which we later found. At eleven the climb was abandoned, in driving The inland Kaikouras, although once rain and wind. The peaks were obpopular with the club, seem to have seured by murk, and we agreed been neglected in recent years. One wholeheartedly with the opinions of of the reasons for this is the range's our predecessors: it certainly was a reputation for loose rock and dreary rubble heap. Dispirited, we arrived shingle; a reputation not without back in camp at three, and spent the some basis in fact. We were told, rest of the day eating and hurling however, that Mount Alarm (9400ft) boulders into the nearby gorge. and Mitre Peak (8600ft) were bless- A southerly change brought fine ed with steep loose rock and even un- weather on of climbed ridges. With these thoughts Sunday, and, course, in mind, Brian Copp, Bill Tidswell, we slept in. Once under way, how- Bruce Miller and myself (Bill Drake) ever, fast time was made, as we decided to spend our Easter in the knew the short-cuts. At 10.30 we area. A Hutt Valley Tramping Club reached the saddle below Alarm, and party, bound for Mt. Tapuaenuku so far it had been just plain slog- (9465ft) would supply truck trans- ging, but the next thousand feet to port. It is several months since we the top looked more interesting (see did the trip, so I will not dwell on photo). Up the ridge a short way we details of the journey by boat from roped up on two ropes, and left two Wellington to Picton and truck to ice-axes behind. The other axes were the Awatere Valley. The choking put in packs. For the next 600 feet clouds of dust we passed through, we moved together, up easy snow and however, could never be forgotten. broken rock, but the last 200 or 300 The sun was just breaking through feet was up reasonably firm rock. as we left the truck at the Hodder The summit was narrow and loose, bridge and headed up the valley. Al- with an abysmal drop on the Clarence though the Hodder scarcely warrants side. Two miles away, Mt Tapuaethe appellation of 'river', it flows nuku looked impressive despite its through some spectacular rock gorges rubbly nature, and across Cook Strait which would be formidable in flood. the North Island was plainly discern- At 3 o'clock, after five or six hours' ible. In the foreground, the unclimbed tramping, we left the river to by-pass ridge of Alarm, with its tottering a waterfall. Above the fall is an ex- pinnacles, for those who looked an enjoyable climb cellent camp site and the H.V.T.C. do enjoy steep, loose party, took advantage of it. We con- rock. At the bottom of the summit tinued on up the upper gorge, which, buttress Bruce and I unroped, watchthankfully, we were able to sidle. It ing a great rock, dislodged by Brian, was a relief to leave the river, as its bounding down at the cringing form persistent roar was getting on my of Bill. And I could appreciate the nerves, and the innumerable iey cross- joke, as I had almost knocked it on ings had long ceased to be enjoyable. to Bruce. At five we made camp near the top The rest of the descent was unof the upper gorge, where there is eventful, and someone suggested goan ideal camp site for a small party, ing on to Tappy', but the rest of us but care must be taken as it is on suddenly developed headaches, etc., the brink of an horrific though un- and the idea was dropped. Camp was seen gorge. In spite of a threatening reached at dusk, but it was not until norwester next morning, we left eight that the last reeling 'Hutt Valearly for Alarm. At its head, the ley' staggered past our camp. Eleven Hodder forks, and, as the guidebook of them had climbed Tappy'. It had says, 'both branches give easy travel- been a glorious day, and we took ling', but we were shocked to be con- back the hard things we had said fronted by an enormous waterfall, * the day before. Monday was also one hundred yards up the Alarm fine and we enjoyed the hike out to branch. The sidle of this obstacle was the road, while even the joggle in the finally accomplished after some ex- truck was endurable. Wellington was citing gymnasties, climbing up. snow- reached at nine that night, and angrass and thin air. For the initiated, other trip was added to our pleasant there is an easy route on the east mountain memories.