Four Aspiring Pilgrims

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FOUR ASPIRING PILGRIMS We are Pilgrims, Sire, journeying and small stones. Could Santa Claus South to reach the apex of the Immacu- forget us? No! He brought the best late Pyramid, which is called Aspiring. presents of all-old man Sol wrapped Should our appearance strike you as up in sunbeams. The joy of the open being rather odd, then it is because we spaces, the glint of sunlight on snow, are four "Tongue and Meats", and we and a tingle of excitement. Impatience are all a little mad. The joker with the burned but was braked by the hunchbacon slicer and the white hat is our backs we had acquired; but at last we chief cook and bottlewasher-You're stood on the Quarterdeck on the brink sure ugly Bruce! The pack from which of a world of snow and ice, cupped in an the delicate air of hot rock 'n' roll blares inverted bowl of blue. Beyond, our forth-yes the one with a T.V. antenna, first close-up view of Aspiring. We amongst all the junk you should find descended to the Bonar Glacier, casting Norm. Whiteside. The owner of those condy's, Norman remarked, like Hansel boots with the toes sticking through, yes, and Gretle. Just as effectively, for the the chap leaving a trail of rusty tri- stains disappeared underground. We encounnis, well that is Mr. Yip-Shut your gineered a camp site on the rocks under face Kelly! Mount French, using that invaluable tool, the ice axe. The cantankerous old-Ahem! gentleman with the red nose and face fungus Boxing day dawned fine and bright. is Norm. Clarkson and there is abso- We crossed the glacier to stand lutely nothing wrong with HIS liver! covetously admiring the South West Ridge mantled in a shroud of virginal Few club parties have gone south by whiteness. Dare we mere mortals Viscount and return in the staterooms trespass and defile such purity? Yes, of the Hinemoa. We were amused when but with humbleness and in trepidation, we saw that it took two men to load aware of the honour bestowed upon us one pack on to one bus. The eve of and our good fortune. Christmas Day found us encamped two hours distance up the West Matuki- Crampons bit deeply into firm crisp tuki, thanks to the ability of the truck snow. There is music in the sound of driver and the inability of the leader of the axe and the tinkling of ice, exhilerathe H.V.T.C. party to voice protest tion in the climb, overawed by the louder than our cries of encouragement. beauty and form of our Snow Princess. The Matukituki is a pleasant spot Hold!-A fall checked-a wave of with extensive grass flats, beech forest, relief. and in fine weather affords views of the Still she holds her crown haughtily high places and eternal snows to which aloof, can it be of the stuff that dreams the heart of all true mountain pilgrims are made-then we shall never reach aspire. Better still, it offers easy going it. to Aspiring Hut, the 'old man's rest home', where we had lunch and left No Cook, Earnslaw and Tutoko some of our food to reduce our packs beckon in the distance, Aspiring Hut is to 70lb. The hut telescope revealed an just visible, the western hills are extensive panorama of invisible moun- cocooned in white mist. We are on the tains swathed in a grey blanket of mirk. summit. The French Ridge track is like the Yeates 600, only longer. We camped What have we achieved? There are by the tarns, delighted to be one day bigger and better and more difficult ahead, and in improving weather to see mountains, who cares We are four Mount Banff. After dark we signalled happy pilgrims, enchanted under a spell with torches and shouts to Rick Boyle, cast by Mount Aspiring, and we have and his merry Tararuascumdeeay at consummated our ideal. Liverpool Bivvy, 3 miles distant. The north-west ridge offered an easier On Christmas morning we looked in route for descent and over the soft afterour socks and found nothing but holes noon snow we were able to glissade part of the way. The descent off the ridge After one gloriously idle day, soakrequired more care. We made one ing in the sun and admiring the scenery false attempt before finding the cairn of which the Astonishables' freshly snow on the ridge which marks the proper sprinkled was one sort, we left our "five place to descend. The next day we star de-luxe cesspool" as we affecrested our sun-weary faces, then on the tionately named our camp, for the great 28th we ascended three small peaks, wide plains. Bevan, Joffre, and French. Bevan was The journey from Dunedin to Christreached from Bevan Col by easy snow church was an excruciating experience, slopes and a final scramble. Joffre we are on "nodding terms" with every offered continuous movement, with only sleeper. The Union S.S. Company were one short, steep patch with ample foot unable to give us berths on the overnight, and hand holds. French was a snow ferry, this called for action, and initiaplug from the Quarterdeck. Then in the tive, a challenge to resourceful menafternoon we fled hot-foot at the sight like ourselves. of fleeting hogsbacks, and lack of fuel The Chief Steward unlocked to Pearl Flat where the Hutt Valley the cabin door to reveal a red scum were suppturating. pool of deep plush carpet. Gasps of awe at the sight of The next two days tested our tents, beds, dressing table, bedside lamps, priat one stage we were afloat. On New vate bathroom and toilet. Never before Year's Eve we dried out gear, and leav- were stowaways so comfortable. Soon ing the Hutt Valley's to fester, saun- the cabins were strewn with our gear, tered down the valley to Aspiring Hut and enlivened by the rhythm of hot where we saw the New Year in. On music. The bathrooms worked over- New Year's Day, Jim Finch guided us time. A steward called "Breakfast in to Cascade Saddle. The day before he bed? Sir" "No thanks, steward-diet had gone astray and sought his revenge. you know". (In fact we had no money.) It was due to his pace-setting with a "Oh, steward"- "Yes, Sir"- "You can light pack and his good guiding that bring on the dancing girls". enabled us to make good time to Dart Such is our tale and should it seem Hut. Three other parties ahead took rather odd, remember, we are four two days. (For route see Moir's guide- "Tongue and Meats" and we are all book.) At the last stream a man and slightly mad.-Norman, Norman, Kelly his wife, carrying small packs with gear and Bruce. festooned on the outside, were looking for a ford * * * We gave them a choice, taking one CAN YOU HELP??? each. Three easy days took us to Glen- The extension sub-committee would orchy. Over the Rees Saddle to Shelter like to hear from members who Rock Hutt, where Norman celebrated his have may eihgteenth birthday for the umpteenth some of the following articles they time. Then to 25 Mile Creek, with its would be prepared to donate or lend narrow gorge, where we camped. An to aid in the furnishing of the hut. Anyimpending weather change and valley one who thinks they may be able to lassitude caused a cancellation of plans help in this way please see Bill Rice. for Mount Earnslaw. We arrived at CUTLERY Glenorchy, thirsty after sweating over a CROCKERY hot track all day, to do our final climb, COOKING UTENSILS on to a stool in the Glenorchy Hotel. MATTRESSES The railways goods shed sheltered us PILLOWS from a ferocious thunderstorm. On ELECTRIC JUG January 5th we went down to Lake ELECTRIC TOASTER Wakatipu in dismal weather to Queens- ELECTRIC VACUUM CLEANER town, where we stayed at the Municipal ELECTRIC HEATERS Camp, which ought to be renamed the SUITABLE WALL PICTURES OR Municipal Garbage-tip. PHOTOS. OCCASIONAL CHAIRS Sure ugly motor camp! We were CHESTERFIELD SUITE shown dry camp-sites and we said !!! CURTAIN MATERIAL (censored). CARPETING