Mitre Flats - Cow Creek

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MITRE FLATS I COW CREEK 1st-3rd February It's a long way to the Pines, but the soul had inadvertently cooked in the W.T.M.C. certainly made the hours fly stew-shall we ever be allowed to forget on the trip that Friday night-we sang it. every tramping song in the book and a few more besides. With only a few Another brilliant day and we set off minor hitches- -one denizen of the bush at 8 a.m. back to Mitre Flats, making was seen running mad'y along the main much better time on the way down (21 street of Masterton after trying to direct hours). A brew, an early lunch, and our driver who didn't know the turnoff we were wandering on down the lower -we reached the Pines at approximately gorge in the boiling sun, some of the 10.45 p.m. The night was spent under upper gorge party passing us on the way. the stars camped at the bush edge of the The river was extremely low and there Barra Track. was only one deep pool which required pack floating. The bush edge was After Margaret Webb's F.E. Upper quickly reached then it was swimming Gorge trip had set off about 6.30 a.m., for all in the last deep hole. The rest the ten "slowies" including Dick's harem of the F.E.'s caught us up here and a of five, rolled out of their pits to get grand party of left-over food, brews, breakfast under a rapidly rising sun etc., was had by all, both in and out of which promised to be a scorcher. When the water. One final spurt and some of we had all sampled each others us made the truck by 4.30 p.m., the concoctions, it was up packs and away scheduled departure time and sat and by 8 a.m. for a steady three hours fumed with perspiration trickling down through the bush to Mitre Flats with while we waited for the stragglers. I Dick's "apple and orange" taking some think there was no excuse for the late punishment along the way: The next leaving this trip; perhaps everyone three hours were spent swimming, eat- should try and be punctual next time. ing and just salubing under a clear sky Thanks Dick, and all who came on it, with never a breath of wind to cool us. for a most enjoyable trip. Old Hughie Mitre Flats Huts was tempting us to must have taken up residence in the stay but we made a big effort and set Northern Hemisphere judging by the off for Cow Creek at 2 p.m. In and last three sizzling river trips. out of the Waingawa all the way up, Those on the were: Dick Simwith many a swim en route, were we trip ever going to reach that elusive hut. mons, Colin Kenchington, Geoff. Aitken, Kevin Harvey, Arthur Van Just as we were all dropping with heat Reshen, Pat Nevitt, Van Dussand exhaustion (!) there was a cry from choten, Kate Brady, Shirley Coby MacGregor, Pat and ther it was, snug in a bend of and yours truly Ursula Furkert. the river. 5.30 p.m. and no rest for the wicked so we poor girls got struck into cooking the stew (women's work * * is never done) with much abuse from the boys who occasionally brought us INCHASMUS a log or two for the fire to show they Out of the rock that clutches me, were working also. A surprise entry Tight as a vice from time to time, was one Nicholas Jennings, who had come from Arete via Mitre. Instead I grab whatever holds there be of staying on the ridge he had popped Of this unconscionable climb. in to save himself the effort of cooking his evening meal and breakfast! It matters not how sti the crack, How charged with slime and void of Early to bed after doctoring one casualty, Kate, as Dick threatened us hope; with an early start in the a.m. Poor I am the chap who can't turn back- Dick-he moaned continually all night I am the Leader of my rope! and most of the next day about the loss of his breakfast steak which some kind C. L. Inker.