Makaretu-Panatewaewae (21-23 June)

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MAKARETU-PANATEWAEWAE (21-23 June) On seeing the new trip schedule, I cause of lack of energy and the appearconvinced myself that you wouldn't ance of the map we rejected his catch me doing a trip in this area with mumblings and strode on. Ten minutes such a vague description and in the later we had climbed Wareato and after company of Capper. This would further tree climbing we admitted that definitely be a trip for people with thick Peter was right. The time was now four sculls or with a twisted sense of humour. o'clock and as a tarn was present we No apologies, Dave. camp. This I was glad of, because Friday night found us staying in the Prempcsarer certain stories of sleeping old farmhouse beside the Pipe Bridge, on a bluff about 100 feet above the and after much verbal abuse the boys Panatewaewae. claimed the superior "bedroom". We Good team spirit was evident and were away early on Saturday morning wood was chopped, a fire lit, tents and after a leisurely 21 hours up the pitched, and a stew prepared. The tem- Makaretu we arrived at the flats, where perature was cold in the night but there Geoff had to be persuaded with physical was surprisingly little rain. force to go on. Progress on Sunday was equally slow, After a brew and following a council and after locating Panatewaewae, route of war, Dave decided to crush Wareato finding along the ridge and the ensuing and Panatewaewae before dropping into spur became difficult. A count of heads the Panatewaewae Stream. The chosen followed before dropping into a creek spur rose steeply from the Makaretu and Dave jubilantly cried that he would and was choked with impenetrable bush get a lot more trips to lead-only three lawyer, supplejack, and rotton logs. missing! Peter and Colonel John Boot, set off in After surprisingly good creek travel the advance party while Dave, Geoff, we were basking in the sun of the Panaand the other John covered the left tewaewae Stream. The track was covered flank-about two and a half miles or with notices saying "Rifles will be prosetwo days away, whichever is the least. cuted, trespassers shot, and dogs confis- After some hours of vegetation climb- cated". We arrived intact at the road ing, clambering up, under, and through end after a very pleasant trip. rotten logs, swinging on vines, falling Here we were glad to be met by into carefully laid elephant pits, losing Stirling Whiteside and Alan Higgins who packs, and rolling down boulders, we set up a relay service. Nick, Henk, and met the others and stopped for lunch. Piers were here, too, after doing a private The bush now improved and after trip. more exhausting travel we arrived at a The survivors were: Margaret Webb, clearing and a curve in the spur, where Anne, Kate Brady, Alister Barr, John big ape Peter climbed a tree in bewilder- Boot, Geoff Aitken, Arthur and Peter ing fashion. He claimed a prominent Daniels, and Dave Capper. bump and saddle to the west, but be- -PAUL GREEN.