Ōhau (July 27-29)

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OHAU (July 27-29) The truck left the Railway Station at topped boulder and to Peter's ankle. 7.45 p.m. for the two-hour trip to the Norm. and Shona had somehow reached swing bridge over the Ohau River. the top by taking an easier route-just Some tried to sleep, while others made like Norm. to be equipped for emersure they didn't!! I was thinking about gencies. He pulled out his rope and the trip-an easy one I'd been told. I hauled Ann to safety first. As she had been on a few private trips, but as moved showers of stones and gravel far as carrying a pack with a full week- came hurtling down just missing me, end's supplies-well-we should see!! then it was my turn. Once I had the All too soon we had to leave the rope about me I knew I could not fall warmth of the truck, thrust our warm any further. Being suspended in midfeet into cold boots and take off. air for a few seconds was quite horrifying, but gradually I reached the top. It was decided not to sleep in the flaked on to the ground with Ann, and nearly deserted cottage, and we pressed waited for the others to come, shaking on. Although we set out together, lack all over and unable to speak properly. of fitness soon began to tell and before If I had fallen, the people below would long we straggled out in two's and have fallen too, and there was nothing three's. I found tramping along a slip- to stop us until the creek far below. pery track by torchlight far from being After gathering ourselves together the easy and consequently arrived at Ohau leader suggested we go straight the Hut long after the others. This meant hill and we should reach the Waiopehu up bedding down on the cold floor but the track in a few hours! We bushbashed roaring fire and hot brew left by Bruce through the thickest jungle of leather- Miller and his party compensated for wood and bus lawyer, crawling on hands this. and knees or falling over or under wet A 9 o'clock next morning Bruce slippery windfalls. Everytime we came Miller's party set off for Waiopehu Hut into a clearing we would hopefully say after deciding the weather was against "Is this the track?" But no. Just a bit their original plans. During breakfast further to climb. we voted against going to South Ohau As hours went by we on as the river was rising with the rain and fully from clearing to clearing, pushed and hope- there we did not relish the idea of an enforced we saw the hut not far away. "About long weekend in South Ohau Hut, so at half an hour or so, we will be there 10 o'clock we decided to set off for before dark," said the leader. Waiopehu Hut via the Blackwater Stream. This stream took us gradually On we trudged, and darkness was beto a height of 1,000ft. where it is joined ginning to fold in around us when to our by a creek which should have ied us great relief there was the track. It up to the Hut. Here we stopped for had taken us all day up hill to reach this lunch. damn track. But we still had to climb another 500ft. to the hut. Then began the ascent, first up a steep waterfall. Reaching the top we stopped It was dark now and by the light of for a breather and looked up to see a dim torches we trudged gallantly onsteep shingle slide above. I thought "Oh ward. The track was a bog and it was Heck!! Do we have to climb up that?" raining heavily. Having several stops While we stood and stared, Norm, and and continually asking how far we had Shona went up ahead, but it was sug- to go, and getting discouraging answers, gested that we should go straight up as we staggered on. I was determined to it was closer to the bush line and we'd sleep anywhere on the track as I was so have something stronger to hang on to. exhausted. but the thought of a warm So up we climbed, but when the top was fire, good shelter and a hot meal was almost reached I could not find anything just too good to miss. to hang on to. Rocks and gravel were We finally reached the hut in an exsliding downwards in to the creek far be- hausted state after our nine and a half low just missing the person below. hours trudge. After taking off wet Thinking "I shall be next," I was trying boots and socks and having some good to keep my head. Somehow I finally hot stew we could finally rest, and try to managed to hang on to a huge flat- sleep on what they call a Maori bunk.

After d'scussing the route we had taken, At the river we joined the others it was decided that we were led up the and waited for the truck to bring us wrong creek!! back to Wellington. If we had taken the next creek Later we were told that the party further up the Blackwater, it would have had come down the ridge too! Just like brought us straight to the hut. It was us novices. better to see the funny side of the To Sum Up: story!!! On Sunday morning the fit party de- Although I thought the end of my cided to go down the Makaretu Stream days had come on the shingle slide, getand meet us at the Swing Bridge. Our ting torn and scratched through tearparty left just before mid-day, and we ing through jungle, complaining of were assured it was all downhill along aching legs and shoulders, strangely the Waiopehu ridge. From the hut to enough I enjoyed it all. Many times I where we joined the track the night be- have wondered why people go tramping. fore took us half an hour, it made our I suppose it is because of the beauty 24-hour trudge the night before seem of the bush, spanning streams, and pretty amateurish. panoramic views of surrounding country- When the mist disappeared we stopped side. Roughing it made me apreciate many times to look at the view over home comforts such as a soft bed and Levin to the coastline and the Ruahines clean sheets. which were snow-capped. Those on the pilgrimmage were: Ann We finally reached the edge of the Parker, Peter Greenfell, Brian Devon bush at 3.30 p.m... Now we could see Shona Baker, Norm. Whiteside, Merv. the countryside which had been in dark- Griffiths (Leader) and myself, Juliet ness on Friday night. Pritchard. *