Rambling to Renata or Wandering the Wet Waiotauru

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* RAMBLING TO RENATA OR WANDERING THE WET WAIOTAURU (8-10 November, 1963) This club trip almost wasn't when a Francis Creek has a politely scenic period of extremely bad weather began quality, the tumbling stream enhanced a subversive muttering, but this was by a pleasing variety of bush and ferns overthrown by counter-revolutionary the easy travelling along the old mill road purists and so the trip RAN! (And how! enchanting trampers into a land of bush With 25 on the truck, even though some and streams and sky. piked because of the weather.) Two blister plastering stops later we Some time on Friday night we piled arrived at the remains of the old winch off on to the road at Cloustonville. A few engine for the proverbial morning tea disappeared in the direction of Renata stop, a of someone else's tea and while the rest of us took over a couple a couple cof bludged biscuits! of the houses opposite the mill, with per- A little farther the creek we began mission obtained by the trip leader. Havup the blazed track to ing moved from one house with glass climbing steeply up on the floor, to a cleaner one, with two the Maymourn Ridge. The track is obviwindows missing but with the advantages ously little used and needs clearing a of running water and an art gallery, we little. Wet dripping bush didn't make settled down to a hot brew and "snaps" the going any more pleasant. However, round a roaring square fire before retiring once the track along the ridge was (I suppose he means going to bed). gained we made more reasonable pro- Nobody begrudged the hardness of gress. the floor that night and we were glad of Renata Hut seems to be one of those the shelter. huts that you think you have passed "Aunty" and his helpers began smash- about four times before you reach it ing up a box and making a brew at an When the rearguard got there it was early hour (too early) while porridge was almost a matter of standing room only made for those who wanted it, by the It was well that we didn't have to spend trip leader. the night there. People. packs, and food Much later, after a thoroush inspection were spread in irregular piles throughof the mill, we trooped off along the out the hut. It must have been possible road, around the river over the hill, and to eat ort of a neighbour's pack withdown to Francis Creek. out him knowing!

Soon after we made off down the spur, Peter came up to guide us about 20 along a blazed track down to the Waio- minutes above the Waiotauru forks. It tauru. The steep descent proved slow for was good to see him and the duckling those unused to it. he'd found. The head of the Waiotauru is indeed The Snowy seemed to be carrying as pleasant, but we would have appreciated much water as the Waiotauru and once it more in the warmth of summer. across we were on familiar ground again. ,We toddled off down river after the A few minutes farther down we climbed main party, the valley widened out and up on to a terrace where some kindly the flats began to appear, then grow people were wating for us with a boiling until they became quite large. The hour billy. Four biscuits and half a handful was getting late, too, and after passing of raisins later we were off again. a couple of the larger ones we saw smoke Fording the river was a good experirising above the trees and a minute or so ence for everybody. In one place I was later came to where the others had stupid enough to follow somebody else's pitched camp. footprints instead of using my noggin Already a monstrous fire was blazing. and the obvious ford. Consequently we We quickly added another two tents came to the proverbial bluff and had to to the three tents and three flys already back track to another ford. pitched and helped gathering logs to Much later we came out on to the feed the fire's large appetite and pre- road and pushed along it as fast as pospare the stew to feed our own. To pass sible. Roaring Meg was fridgidly cold. the time while the stew was cooking Eventually we arrived at the splash, an we sang the odd tramping song and a hour later. few Christmas Carols. GEOFF AITKEN. Most people retired to their pits soon Great Mountains have great storms, and after tea. lesser hills long rain. A clear sky greeted the early risers They reach their arms in riotous ridge on the Sunday, but this happy situation forms to hail cloud-comrades from didn't last for very long and before we the drenching plain: left the sky was already overcast. Rain Their gorges drain the upward rush of overtook us in the gorge, an interesting thunder; place even though we had trouble with Their torrents speeding under, pour back some crossings. the lees to breed cloud riot again.