Hopkins Valley (Mount Hopkins and the Black Tower)

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HOPKINS VALLEY were at Huxley Gorge Station with transport arranged for the next day. Imagine nine steaming bodies in Breakfast was at Ohau Lodge, lunch a '55 Chev., Christmas dinner at at Pukaki Hotel, and dinner at the the Pukaki Hotel consisting of coffee Hermitage. Not bad for people who and tomato sandwiches, a puneture are supposed to be living on dehy. in the last miles of the eight-hour The Hermitage area proved to be journey, and you have the picture of completely out of condition due to how we started our Christmas trip, the continued fine weather and no Next day saw us at Elcho Hut and frosts. Undaunted, six of the party according to my diary I, at least, was rushed up to Mueller Hut while Dave very pleased to be there. Nick and Capper and I rushed down to Lake party had left us half way up the Tekapo, spent the night in the motor Valley to go climbing in the Huxley. camp, and hitch-hiked back next day. The following night found us in- It seemed useless to stay longer with stalled at the campsite in the North not much possibility of a climb and Elcho. A certain amount of laughter we eventually left four days early, from Dave and I and much angry arriving in Wellington on Tuesday, muttering from Don and Otto who 10th January. A disappointing trip happened to find themselves on the as far as the climbing was concerned wrong bank coming up. After hourly but then, to be in the mountains was looks at the weather from 3 a.m. the main reason for going at all. onwards next morning we decided that climbing was out. Breakfast -W. RICE. was leisurely, as was our stroll down to the hut. * * * It was early morning on the bush edge of the Upper Hopkins Valley. SILICONE WATER Otto was just making coffee. A pleasant spot, a warm night and REPELLANTS everyone slept well after a long day. Leaving Elcho Hut we travelled up Here are some facts on Silicone the Valley to the rock bivouac at Water Repellants, supplied by T. W. the head, which was quite cosy, but Williams Ltd., soon to be available at would only sleep two. Away next Tisdalls and Smalls. day at 4.5 a.m. and up the Tragedy Col. A steady climb of four hours For the treatment of clothing, tents to the Col on grass, shingle and and BOOTS. loose, slatey stones. We hit the top too far south and had to traverse the Woven and knitted fabrics and ridge for some distance, all the time leathers. (Not rubber or looking for a good descent route. We plastics). didn't see one. At the col itself, near It does not block the "pores" of vertical snow in bad condition and fabrics, so it won't sweat inside. very little possibility of even a reasonable delay soon showed that If clothes are washed or dry this was no place for us. In two and cleaned, they must be re-treated. a half hours we muttered our way to the valley fioor. On down to the It dries a light yellow in colour, bush edge that night, and Elcho Hut and darkens leather. next day. So ended our attempt to pass-hop to the Hermitage. One type of Silicone contains rot- Nick's party arrived that night, proofer, insecticide and fungicide, which was New Year's eve. We which means a treated tent may be celebrated by consuming the com- taken down, shaken and rolled up, plete contents of one half bottle of because it is perfectly dry. whisky between the eight of us. The problem now was how to get to the No prices are available, so you'll Hermitage, and by January 2nd we have to wait and see.