Ambition is a Dangerous Thing

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AMIBITION IS A DANGEROUS THING The plan, get an early start, rush into before 11.00 a.m., but we were still Totara Flats as fast as possible, get a confident that we would be at Maungareasonable quota of sleep, travel over huka by 1.30 p.m. with luck, and Concertina Knob to Maungahuka and tainly there by 2.00 p.m. cerand then along the Main Range to Andersons on Saturday, and on Sunday So on with packs, through the river, return to the car at Bannister via Shingle and up and up-and up. After an hour Slip Knob, Angle Knob, and either we decided the top of the next bump down the Atiwhakatu or round over might be Concertina Knob, but pro- Holdsworth. We even took a riflle as bably wasn't. It wasn't. Twenty official party gear as "it shouldn't be toc minutes later we were confident we difficult, and we're sure to see some could see the top of Concertina Knob, game". and when we got there were dismayed We arrived at Bannister full of de- to see. the top still another few hundred termination, bailed out of the car-- feet higher. By the time we did get and nearly froze where we stood. We to the top of Concertina Knob (number were brought back to life by a masterly ten) we were tired, hot, and considerably flow of insulting remarks from some put out by the fact that it had taken character in a truck-we listened with us two-and-a-half hours to climb this far, respect until we realised that he was re- let alone to Maungahuka which was leerferring to us-and at that stage, being ing down at us on the other side of an good Tongue and Meats with an exten- unpleasantly deep saddle. sive repetoire of invective, we returned However, time was very short, sO with the compliment forcefully. a minimum of mutterings we tottered Communication thus established, down into the saddle and struggled up identification followed the person out of the bush on the other side turned out to be Laurie Haigh, and he where an icy blast promptly started a had coffee available. Our determination deep-freeze process despite a perfectly evaporated on the spot and we spent clear and suny sky. Gloves and parkas the next half-hour fortifying ourselves were produced, and the semblance of against the temperature. upward motion resumed until we Eventually we dragged ourselves off up reached the top of a shoulder where the track-actually Laurie wanted to the view resulted in an involuntary go to bed and kicked us out, but we stop. It was magnificent, but what won't dwell on unpleasant incidents. stopped us in our tracks was the sight And so after a brew, to bed. of miles and miles of distance- -with On Saturday morning the temperature Wright, Simpson, Aokaparangi, and at Totara Flats was not conducive to Kahiwiroa, making the route to Anderrising and shining, but somehow we sons a fearsome prospect. This was too managed to get away by 9.00 a.m., an much for us and we sought the shelter hour later than planned, and headed up of the ridge to consider the situation. the Hector River track, sO excellently The time was now a little after 1.00 p.m. cleared and disced by the W.T.&M.C. and it would take at least another four recently. hours to Andersons, in this wind more Just over an hour and a half later like five, and in our condition - we the air was thick with invective as two certainly wouldn't be there before dark. members of the party reviled the third A cigarette was indicated, as this was who had confidently promised that there quite as bad as being lost. It didn't take were boulders on which to hop across long to reach a unanimous decision to the Hector River without getting wet stay at Maungahuka Hut. Having feet. The boulders, of course, were not abandoned Saturday's ambition we felt there, and much was the bitterness- a lot happer, and eventually arrived which came to an abrupt halt as a large, at the hut round about 2.00 p.m.-four white billy goat hove into view on the hours from Hector Forks instead of the other side of the river. This was the three hours we had thought would be perfect opportunity for the perfect shot relatively easy. and, contrary to your expectations, dear Any lingering doubts we readers, the goat dropped where it stood. had about staying at may have Time had now marched on to just the night were dispelled Maungahuka the minute for we saw the wire sprung bunks with foam deer trail to follow. Half-way down rubber mattresses, and it was only a there was a spot of confusion with matter of seconds before we had boots flalen trees, second growth, and lawyer, off and were sampling their comfort. but by casting around we navigated As we thawed out and fed ourselves this and followed the spur down to the optimism returned and we decided on an river. early night and early start, and a gallop When we took stock of the situation along the Main Ridge, possibly even at the river we found we were opposite completing the original trip, and at any a creek off Isobelle, sO after a prolonged rate not returning, completely defeated, lunch stop (we didn't want a long rest by the same route. (ha! ha!) but the billy wouldn't boil) we After an early tea we were in bed by started up the spur down-stream of 7.00 p.m. and just dozing off when the the creek. The start was precitious and first of a Varsity party blew in after an occasioned unpleasant remarks about epic six hours from Andersons, preceded people who said rock is seldom steeper by the climb up from Waitewaewae. As tha sixty degrees and bush country isn't this party included two renegade Tongue as steep as rock. The flow of invective and Meats, sleep was postponed with the was interrupted to shoot another old-man result that when the alarm went off at billy and then on and up to the bush-line 4.00 a.m., lighting a candle was a slow- -another good spur with no leathermotion process, and getting a brew wood problems and two and a quarter almost qualified as "still life". The cook hours later we were on Isobelle, and sitretired to his pit, half-frozen by the ting at the tarn near the top of Holdseffort, to drink the tea and inevitably all worth soon after, enjoying the last of slept again. the sun and looking back at Maunga- Eventually the party stirred under the huka Hut which was still just visible. It scorn of the Varsity bods who started didn't take long to reach Powell Hut, to move at 6.00 a.m., and with a sup- and little longer to arrive at Mountain reme effort breakfast was cooked and House as we raced the darkness. Our we left the hut at 7.45 a.m. while the stop at Mountain House was brief as Varsity types dribbled off towards the water tanks were empty. From there Hector. on we used torches, and it wasn't much later that we were drinking our last Our plans were vague-north along brew at Bannister some eleven and a the Main Ridge, and somehow, some- half hours after leaving Maungahuka. time, back to Bannister and the car. But So, although we hadn't completed our the sky was clear, the wind not so rather over-ambitious plan, we at least strong, and we'd had a good sleep- felt satisfied we had done a reasonable away Jaughing, so to speak. even if there sort of trip despite late starts-and we were one or two doubtful glances into felt really happy when three shooters the Waiohine valley-into which we came in after us-we're not the only would have to descend, and out of which ones to arrive at huts after nightfall! we'd have to climb, at some stage of the day's journey. Wright, Simpson, and on Signed by those who have, on to Aokaparangi, in an hour and a half occasions, signed themselves as "the we felt happier. Shoot a fawn. retrieve ambitious trampers section", but who the back steaks, and sit on Kahiwiroa in now, more modestly, think "the overunder three hours. Very nice, but - ambitious trampers section" might be it was still a fair way to the spur be- more suitable. yond Andersons, and Angle Knob looked Those on the trip were: Hank even further away. Watches were con- Berthulet, Nick Jennings, John Patchett. sulted, cigarettes lit, and the desira- * * bility of not arriving back at the car