But We Survived (Chief Guide's logbook extract)

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BUT WE SURVIVED (An extract from the Chief Guide's logbook.-Ed.) Truck ride to Taihape produced in- other hazards, to the ridge, then down jury number one-severe cramp in both to the saddle. The others followed, calves. At Taihape station, party dropped packs, and then on three ropes, attacked by gorilla (or maybe only an made a rapid ascent of the high peak. Orongo-rongo Orang-outang), which Then came back to the saddle for a escaped. Cost of. subduing said an- brew. On with ropes and crampons thropoid was injury number two-one again, and off down the Gliding Gladys broken knee. Towards dawn we sneaked glacier. Oh! disastrous descent. Inin a couple of hours sleep at the club jury number six-a sitting glissade, due hut on Ruapehu-then breakfast, and to an affectionate pat on the back, our unwilling feet followed the lead patting banned forthwith. given by our clean, eager, shining faces, Injury number seven-a which were tilted resolutely upwards. demonstration that an ice axe practical thought- At the Alpine Club hut, an hour lessly waved between the legs will cause later, injury number three-a moral in- a fall-with damage to pride. Injury jury, when deputy leader sneaked out number eight as we sought the elusive of carrying timber up to shelter hut snow poles in the murk and drizzle. site on crater rim. The leader's competance in route finding was queried, and the speculation of At top of third chairlift, about half spending a night in the drizzle, somean hour later-injury number four- what injured the leader's pride. After again moral, when many insults were finding the poles and high-tailing passed concerning so-and-so pommies, through the dusk towards Blythe Hut, who have handbag sized packs, and number nine and number ten injury folprance around we weight-carrying kiwis, lowed closely on one another as first an in an obnoxious manner. ankle gave way and a face was buried Another hour and a half of steady in the mud. plodding up the glacier, mainly above After hobbling the last few yards the murk now, and the party shook to the hut with pumice dust rubbing the hands all round, as we gazed with last of the skin from our heels, its modest pride at our achievement, it was refuge of comfortable bunks, plus the the Crater Lake. stimulas of insulting each other's stews Then with martial music in our ears, caused us to forget the trials of the day. we donned our armour for the fierce Our first cautious steps on the Sunday traverse round to the plateau. Injury reminded us of our various handicaps, number five-on the way-to pride but a deterioration in the weather mainly, involving the discovery that spured us on to Ohakune, where we ate some sort of technique is necessary fish and chips and ice cream (Ugh! Ed.), when wearing crampons. Lunch at the had a look round town, before grabbing plateau. Weather the same. Mist ris- a couple of hours sleep on the paveing and falling, but a good spell of sun ment. during lunch. Photographer requested The meeting with the Ngaruhoe party certain person to dance naked in the when the truck arrived to pick us snow, for an off-beat picture. Prospec- so moved the locals, that they watched up: tive model declined request-as full the little drama with tears in their eyes. effect would not be possible with so Those on the trip were: Ron. Beavon, much ash on the snow. Brian Cropp, Bill Drake, Nick. Then on round the crater to find the Jennings, Bruce Jefferies, Bruce Miller, saddle. With ropes and ice axes, Margaret Webb, Norm. Whiteside. crampons and snap links (but, mark * * * you, no pitons). The deputy leader forced an unusual route through murke, Congratulations to Beryl and Keith crevasses, falling rocks and sundry Garbutt, on the birth of a son.