Ohau - Girdlestone Saddle - Mangahao Dam

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OHAU-GIRDLESTONE SADDLE-MANGAHAO DAM As this trip is in the extreme north We plodded on with the creek becomof the Tararuas it means a long and ing narrower and steeper. The wellexpensive journey and is therefore known waterfall was sidled by most of seldom scheduled. An attempt to run us and gave no little trouble as the a Club trip here in the past has re- sidling track from below is clear but sulted in a cancelled trip through lack seems to peter out without an indication of support. of where to descend. Which of course On this occasion, with thirteen names we did eventually but not without a on the list, it was decided to go ahead slither, slide and a curse or two! and under the leadership of Ron Fayle On our way again we scanned the the truck left the station on Friday slips looking for the metal sign that night twenty minutes late, with eleven marks the Girdlestone Saddle on our of us aboard. Yes! we had two right. If there is a correct way up to "pikers" even before we started. the sign we never found it but labouriously hauled ourselves up the almost Knowing that the Whaka-what-nots vertical grassy (luckily!!) old slip face were close behind and heading for the and soon were in the saddle-a few same hut we wasted little time. minutes down the other side and we The general opinion regarding the splashed happily into the Mangahao track was that it was in a terrible con- River. dition sO I think I'm right in saying We were soon at Avalanche Flats we all went up. the river-Ron and Hut and as we were running behind "Yours Truly" tailing the field, a posi- schedule lunch was a rather hurried tion of honour we were to occupy most affair but thanks to Fraser the billy was of the week end. Although discoloured already boiling and no time was lost the river was little higher than normal over the brew. and gave us no trouble. Not knowing why two people "piked" Luckily Ohau hut was unoccupied and on even coming on the trip I will forwe soon settled in. The Whaka's fast bear to mention their names but here pack called in but elected to camp for posterity and to their everlasting further up river-the rest of them we shame I must record that at this point never saw! Joe and Derek decided to go no further. Sad at heart with the disgrace of our Saturday was cloudy but mild and former comrades, our gallant little at various times around eight o'clock we company, now down to seven in set out on the first leg of our journey number (what price the Ten Little up river again to South Ohau Hut. The Nigger Boys!!) with never a backward river was now runing clear and normal. glance pushed on with indomitable cour- The L.W.T.C. are to be congratulated age into the unknown. on rebuilding this hut for although Generally speaking the river was easy compact it is weli built and much larger to travel and in round figures it would than the old hut. take about two and a half hours down Bill and Peter left us here to head to Harris Creek. On the way Hank up to Te Matawai and the open tops, and Florian managed to frighten a stag and after a welcome brew the party to death-they had the decency to shoot now down to nine members, pushed it eventually to make sure. Despite on up the South Branch of the Ohau. advice Florian insisted on carrying a Never fond of river travel at the best full hindquarter on top of an already of times, it was impossible not to look heavy pack. He was to admit his lesson forward to the thought of a pleasant before The the trip was over. amble down the Mangahao on a clear, big creek coming in with a sweep well defined track along the river bank. on our right and the wire across the Perhaps it is as well the future is hidden river confirmed that we were at Harris Creek with about ten us-we from never saw a real track light left, but where was minutes the of dayall week end except perhaps the last an hour floundering around hut? in the After bush couple of hundred yards from the Dam! we gave up looking and pitched There was the usual uncertainty at in the bush edge just down river camp from each fork in the creek, but not for long the forks. as the correct branch in each case is Luckily it was a calm mild so marked night by a cairn. there was little discomfort in it.

Away next morning shortly after Footsore we may be after such a eight thirty we made good time as the road pounding but go back we must, valley is wide and, especially towards even as men sought to the death to find the Dam the shingle is small, hard the North West Passage, so we must packed and in large flats, making for find that - Harris Creek Hut!!! See very easy going. Only one pool slowed you in the hills. us down but even that was no worse -TED. than waist deep and could probably have been sidled. Those who completed the trip: Margaret Webb, Fraser Walls, Ron The sun shining ahead on to waving Fayle, Ted Dakin. toi-toi told us we were near the lake Those who "piked" on the last lap: and soon we were sliding and slithering Florian Studer, Hank Berthulet, Bob through the sandy mud around the dead Montague. trees drowned in the relentless flood- Those who "piked" half way: Joe waters. Pemberton. Derek Finnigan. A well built bridge spanning a small Those on private trip: Bill Drake, canyon on our left told us where the Peter Atkinson. track was but after a hundred yards or so of the track we decided the mud * * * could not be worse and descended