Holdsworth-Mitre

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HOLDSWORTH-MITRE By the law of averages sufficient It was still calm and mild-a beauatempts at this trip were certain to bring tiful morning, and I felt I should be eventual success, but the question was keen and excited with the prospect of -would I be around that long? Success an excellent opportunity at last to come has answered the question, and made to grips with this "bete noire" but this article possible. strangely all I wanted to do was to go Knowing how keen I was for this to sleep-can't think why! "red line", and how often I had Just after seven we were on our way attempts at this trip were certain to bring plodding steadily along towards the crest doubt that I would be a starter when it above. was scheduled, which was no doubt the Truely it was a wonderful day. The reason for my appointment as leader, sun was just warm enough to be pleasant though as the list grew with the names while the merest suggestion of a breeze of the super fit and the extra super fit, was enough only to be refreshing. there were times when I visualised being Many sidled Holdsworth itself, but deleft to make a solo attempt!!! termined that the trip should run to schedule some of us circled the trig and Having to share the truck with two stood for a while to admire the views other trips on Friday night became a around us. nightmare to an orderly mind trying to The peaks and ridges stood out clear tie names to numbers and vice versa. in the morning light and we had no An almost unprecedented 36 bods were difficulty in them, aboard identifying though when we left the Railway some of them, especially those ahead of Station. With eight on the Working us seemed sO far away. Party, six going into Mitre Flats and To the South every bump on the four on private trips there should have Southern Crossing route was etched been 18 left, but even including myself against the sky so that we could follow I have never been able to find more than cach step of the seventeen names, with the result that I To the West of way. us Aokaparangi and am becoming convinced that Cedric was Kahiwiroa dominated the Main Range, with us!! across the valley of the Waiohine. Going through to Powell Hut at night To the East and below us the is essential for a Holdsworth Mitre party winding bush-clad Pinnacle Ridge lay above so to save time we cut out the Feather- the Atiwhakatu and beyond lay the sunston stop and hugged our discomfort drenched plains of the without cease Wairarapa. through to Bannister. Ahead of us and dominating our view It was a calm, mild night and a was Angle Knob, at the end of the to pleasure amble through to Holdsworth sweeping, curved ridge and somewhere long, for any going that far, but the thought below along the ridge our first of Powell Hut was like toothache, a "Jumbo" was hidden by the "bump"constant nagging that must be endured Off we went with a light perspective. those until the greater pain of extraction was ahead already like ants in the step, distance. over. Perhaps it was the pleasure of being The ridge undulated gently and out of the crowded swaying truck, but Jumbo was soon left behind almost unthe time passed well and the climb noticed. Before Angle Knob the rested seemed less onerous than I had remem- while (to give me a chance party to catch a bered. Were Sunday fit" up!!) and seeing that, as the party moved dividends!ll?? my Whether "get trips paying off, those behind me were some of the or not, it was fitter ones, I had no 1.30 before we reached the hut, and qualms in taking a 2.00 before we settled down for the 000000XXXXX00000000000000000XXXXXX000000000000000 OOC inevitable and very welcome brew. COVER PICTURE Nick then arrived shepherding a couple of stragglers and the necessary Smoko at one of the few landing early start began to appear less and less places in the lower gorge of the Wangalikely. However, a couple of shooters were nui River. (Article on page 14.) Photo. up at five from when, I, at least, gave by Merv. Griffiths. up the attempt to sleep. o 00 00 a 00000 000000 position in the middle of the party, any very great climbs, and in a surpriswhich I was able to maintain for most ingly short time we looked across at of the rest of the way. Adkin and over to Dorset Ridge where From a Middle Crossing done in the the new hut could be seen quite clearly. past, where we had climbed out from There was a mention of a brew the Waiohine via Angle Knob, Mc- before the climb on to Girdlestone Gregor lying to the North had before (where we joined the Northern Crossing it a deep saddle which I had begun to route) which acted as a spur to get us remember with dread. On the top of over Adkin to the saddle before Girdle- Angle Knob however, I realised with stone on the other side. thankfulness that the view I had remem- Here it was that "Hughie" deserted us bered was the saddle between it and and as we "spelled" with a quick brew Shingle Slip Knob, and the climb on to it began to cloud over, mist began to McGregor was a greater gradient, barely form and obliterate our view of Mitre, enough to put us out of breath. so close yet so far away. Once on top of McGregor we looked Tiny specks could be seen toiling todown upon a broken, twisted ridge ward the summit and we wished we were which seemed to stretch much too they. A short sharp shower of rain far into the distance. Down there- dispelled our wishful thinking and set with "fangs" hidden-lay these fabu- us moving. lous Broken Axe Pinnacles, with the The rain soon stopped but the mist be- Three Kings beyond beckoning like a came more determined SO that our anticibend in a long bad road. pated viewing from the top of Girdle- We were soon on the ridge and the stone was no more than a perfunctory pinnacles which gave us no trouble except glance around, a counting of headsfor the last drop into a small saddle. then off again. Most of us went off the ridge down a Plod, plod, plod-the mist was thicker gut on the Eastern side and sidled round but fortunately it was still mild and to the saddle. With plenty of snow quite calm. grass to hang on to this was annoy- A rest beneath the summit rocks of ing rather than hazardous. Brockett to take in glucose and light A true Knife Ridge, this area was conversation, with yours truly becoming most interesting, especially where the very tired now and thankful for those track sidles a few feet from the top and in the lead with sufficient energy left to one can hold the top of the ridge in ponder the route and set the direction. the hand to balance!!! Another saddle with easy going for The pinnacles were little higher than a while, more climbing, more rocks, a the ridge itself and the ground so gradient surely this was familiar! broken that with the plentiful snow Could it be?? it was!! Mitre!!!! grass there was plenty to step up on The lack of a view was disappointing, and hold on to! but we had been and were still lucky A short rest in the saddle lengthened with the weather still calm and mild. as we were told the first pack had gone Whatever happened now no one could on to make a brew at the tarn before ever take this away from us, we had the Baldy turn off, and a most welcome made it. brew it was. Thanks to Bill Drake for leading us Four of our party left us here to over Peggy's Peak and down to the go to Mitre Flats via Baldy, whilst four cairns. others shot ahead with the intention of Refreshed as I felt with the downward turning North at Brockett along Table grade and the elation of success my Ridge down to the Upper Gorge of the thoughts were with Derek in England Waingawa (for the life of me, I can't and not, I must admit on my responthink why!!) sibilities. As some of our own Mitre party Just inside the bush edge we came were ahead we wasted little time and upon two couples under canvas preparafter ensuring everyone present was ing their evening meal after a day associated with one party or another we on the tops. pushed on again to the Three Kings. We stopped for a drink and exchanged Admittedly, our pace was slower but pleasantries but were soon on our way I think the undulations of the ridge again. really were more definite, though the Hurrying now to make the hut before actual memory of the Kings is not of dark the party soon left the "old man"

to amble along, albeit quite happily, bags. Too tired to sleep, it was, for on his own. Full of success and happy "yours truly", a long, long night, but at memories I was, nevertheless, very least a dry warm secure one. pleased to come across Gary who The following morning found the gamely waited and kept me company on world wreathed in swirling mist and rain the last lap. which showed no signs of lifting. Russ also came to help but found Leaving early with the object of waitme still on my feet and still moving. ing and changing in the wood shed by Torches were needed for the last few the bridge we had the expected uneventhundred yards but the light from the hut ful and wet trip out. was a beacon promising all that we Plenty of time to spare while waiting wanted in the world (at that moment) for the truck meant time for brews and rest, drink, food and dry clothes. food until Peter's working party crossed Here I must mention Johnny Symes the bridge from the Bannister Road to and his friend Basil de Adman, who join us. had left the day before us and camped Another red line is marked up-one Friday night on the tops so being ahead long awaited. of our party all the way. Cheerio for now. See you in the hills. To Johnny, my thanks for his little -Ted. notes left to spur and cheer us along. Tiose on trip: Margaret Webb, Allen I have them all and they shall remain Higgins, Barry Cordwell, Bill Drake, in the contemporary trip schedule, along Garry Lund, Peter Atkinson, Nils with other trip schedules which I have Powell, Russ Hargreaves, Jim Aitken, kept over the years. Ron Wilson, Colin McNatty. "Hughie" had not really deserted us Via Table Ridge and Upper Waifor he had kept his "liquid sunshine" ngawa Gorge: Bruce Miller, Bruce away but once we were inside the hut Jefferies, Norman Clarkson, Hank he gave it full rein. Over the inevit- Berthulet. able brew we thought of those of our Via Baldy and Barton Track: Norman party up river in the Gorge and of those Whiteside, Nick Jennings, Murray shooters camping at the bush edge and Brown, Bruce Anderson. then we snuggled deeper into sleeping And yours truly, Ted Dakin. *