Upper Waingawa Gorge

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* UPPER WAINGAWA GORGE 1st-3rd February After a somewhat confusing "tour de Waingawa quenching our thirsts and Masterton" we piled out of the truck gazing up cn to the steep slopes of at the pines on a very fine Friday night. Brockett, where we saw Andy and Bill The majority of the party were intend- going on to do a Northern. ing to sleep out at the pines while a After a brew and a light lunch we set few of us set off for Mitre Flats Hut. off for Arete Forks. We arrived at the After what seemed a continuous uphill hut after a pleasant stroll down this slog (there didn't seem to be any down- evenly-graded river. We settled into the hill bits), we arrived at the hut and comfortable bunks and awaited the settled into our pits almost immediately arrival of the main party which had so as to make an early start in the at this stage decided to spend the night morning. Nick, after failing to persuade up on Table Ridge. As a result we had any of us to go on, decided to continue a quiet and uneventful night. up over Mitre somewhere. The following morning as we were At some evil hour Saturday morning just leaving we heard several strange I awoke to see Henk preparing a brew noises, as only humans can make. and breakfast. Not long after, Henk, Minutes later the party had arrived. Mac and myself set off up the track on About half an hour later we all set off the trail of Nick. Our intention of down the Gorge for Cow Creek Hut. going on ahead of the party (unknown The river was very low so it was unto the party), was to secure for our- necessary to do any swimming and conselves the comfortable bunks at Arete sequently we made a relatively fast time Forks Hut. After a fast climb to the down to Cow Creek. We saw signs of edge of the bushline we met Nick who previous habitation, presumably our had decided to spend the night there. other party, which was destined to have We joined forces and continued on up spent the night there. A note in the log on to Capper's bivvy (sometimes known book confirmed our suspicions. as Mitre). A quick brew was had and then we We spent several minutes on the top set off in chase of the other party. When surveying the glorious view. The day we arrived at Mitre Flats there was no was perfect, the prominent Bannister sign of them so we continued on down Ridge standing against the clear blue the river where we met them having a sky to the north, to the west a glorious late lunch. view of Crawford and it's adjacent spurs, to the south a hazy view of the Dress After several brews and as many Circle and Girdlestone - Holdsworth swims we found ourselves back at the routes. pines where the truck was waiting to Suddenly the spell was broken and take us back to civilisation after a most we found ourselves descending into the enjoyable weekend. Mitre-Brockett Saddle, minutes later a -KEN MCNATTY rapid gear change was necessary as we Those on the trip were: Norm. Whitewere grinding up on to Brockett, then, side, Bruce Jefferies, Paul Green, Alan once again we were dropping, this time Higgins, Colin McNatty, Henk Bertholet, into the Brockett-Girdlestone Saddle Margaret Webb (Leader), Jim (bush where we had noticed an open-looking walker)?, Robin McGreivy, Peter spur leading into the Upper Waingawa. Daniels, Mac Riding, Ken McNatty, Forty minutes later we were in the Derek Finegan.