Variation (Anzac Saturday trip)

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VARIATION - Venturing along one of Phil's mist- It was a pleasure to see some of shrouded bush trails (the only Phil our more competent skiers on the I can bring to mind is the one who slopes of Mount Ruapehu dishing out 'Carried On'-Ed.) on Anzac Saturinstruction to some of us less skilled day, you could have seen two Altexo members. For it is significant that roadside tents. You would also have the more knowledgeable people are noticed that near Mangahuka tarns often of a reticent nature, and re- was no roadside, and that the tents luctant to expound, or 'spout', in were diong a sort of misty South other words. This unfortunately tends Col' flap. This was the result of the to leave the field clear, not so much trip committee's Mangahuka-Totara with ski-ing as perhaps the more Flats-Kaitoke effort, and thoroughly technical skills, so making it easy enjoying it were Ron Stewart, Ron for the quacks, bush lawyers, etc., Couper, Frazer Walls, Kelly Kip and to be heard. Dave Capper. * * * As they lay their listening to the wind, they may have remembered SKIERS PLEASE NOTE how they got there. First, residing in the Cottage; off at 6.30 a.m.; up to Safety straps are being worn this Fields, and their arrival at West year on the mountain. Peak. The magnificent weather, and Also, it is a fact that any gear left the meeting of seven and at the club hut at Ruapehu after the Meats' at the new Kime. Tongue close of the season at Labour Week- mist on the Main Range, Entry into and end will be declared club property downs to Tararua Peaks. The ups vague, and handed to the Gear Custodian. cold, hairy encounter with the are You warned! obstacles and the gradual reduction local *

of the individuals. The final joyful arrival at Mangahuka tarn and four OBITUARY miraculous tentpoles. These were the background thoughts in that isolated It is with regret that we record place. Morning dawned wet and 'evil', the death of Brian Williams in a and like five little ants our heroes climbing accident on Mount Blanc, on crawled into the gloom. After pick- August 4, 1960, and I am sure that ing up a couple of hands which had club members join with the commit- fallen off, they staggered off to find tee in extending to Brian's mother Concertina Knob. Sure enough, after our deepest sympathy. a pleasant Sunday morning stroll Brian, or Snow', as he was better through delightfully sodden quagknown, joined the club while still at mire conditions, there WAS Concercollege and remained a very active tina Knob, grinning evilly. member with us for many years. Now, the miserable leader had been 'Snow' started his here before, and knew all about fallclimbing career ing off the spur too late. He on one of the club's first Alpine In- clever and knew that this was struction courses and until he left for vertically into the Waiohine. dropped off overseas had many fine ascents in the brilliant reasoning, he So off by Southern Alps. Among his many fine too soon. This provided dropped climbs, perhaps the best were the suffering in the of about unpleasant first ascent of the Black Tower in feet of bush penetration. shape The 2000 the Hopkins Valley, and the first anguish and rending of dislodged roars foli- of ascents of the North and South Grey age must have most Virgin Peaks in the Godley Valley. the deer from the frightened Tararuas. A small of A memorial service was held at creek led the party into the Hector Seatoun in conjunction with a similar River. The river tumbled on service overseas, following which his its way through giant boulders. noisily The ashes were scattered amongst the dense bush soared away in hills he loved so much. direction. Five little men made every evil D.C. brews and felt better. Kelly Yip dis- covered 'letters' in the soup-a won- them and our heroes was that they derful morale booster. A damp sidle KNEW where the Hector River track round an imaginary deep pool brought was. They were also T&M's and had us to recognisable terrain-now to successfully navigated the mighty find Hector Track. This seemed diffi- Hectorporo River, with its vast cult beyond words, and five parka- swamps. Bannister Hut saw the conclad figures carefully investigated the clusion of some varied but rewardtiniest deer trail, like lots of Sher- ing three-day tramping. Out of fiflock Holmes's they meandered eager- teen picked men leaving Otaki Forks, ly around looking for clues. Suddenly twelve had got through. I wonder a shot shattered the silence. Across what happened to U. H. G. Finegan the river were seven young gentle- and his Mob? men. The only difference between DAVE CAPPER. + r