Hodder Valley (Easter)

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HODDER VALLEY (Easter) A large number of club members The next day we got up at 4.30 a.m. went overseas this Easter on the "Ara- and got away by about 6.00. Bruce, moana", about twenty going on a trip Alan, and Ken climbed Mitre, John round the Marlborough Sounds, while and Penny Alarm, and Margaret and another party of eight went farther myself Tapuaenuku. All returned to south to the Hodder Valley. The Hodder camp by about 5.00 that afternoon. burnt is one of the principal tributaries of the and thirsty, with similar stori es of long. Awatere, which flows out over the plains hot scree slopes, the view into the near Blenheim. A road goes up the Clarence, glissades on the few patches Awatere Valley, a bridge crossing the of hard snow and self arrest on gravel. Hodder River near its junction with the On Sunday none of us felt like re- Awatere, and from there the deeply- peating the long painful process of gorged Hodder Valley gives fairly easy struggling like penitent pilgrims, two access to the three principal peaks of steps backward for each one forward. the area: Tapuaenuku, the highest at up the scree slopes again for another 9465 ft.; Alarm, 9400 ft.; and Mitre, look at the Clarence, so the day was 8850 ft. These rugged outliers of the spent sunbathing and swimming. In the main divide, despite their height, have afternoon we climbed up on to the ridge no glaciers, and at this time of the year behind the camp site, and from this little snow, just acres of parched scree vantage point could see much of the slopes, continually slipping away under surrounding country, range upon range the erosive effects of viscious frosts and of brown, shingly mountains shimmering swift-flowing streams. in the heat haze, occasional patches of After emotional farewells at Picton snow, cool, but far away. to the Sounds party, we travelled by That evening we sat around the fire truck. along with parties of Tararuas listening to the Beatles on the Late and Hutt Valleys. up to the Hodder Show, and wondering why the moon bridge, near which we slept out under was always full at Easter, and later a clear, moonlit sky which promised retired to our sprawling Bedouin tent. fine weather for Easter. "Funny how Gary to his cornflakes box, to sleep there's always a full moon at Easter.' > while the cold wrapped itself around the place. Bruce had arranged everything, or so he said, and had brought all the food in The following day, Monday. we a large cornflakes box. We were sur- saddled the fastest camels and rushed prised to find that he expected the rest back down the valley; this was very of us to carry some of it, but eventually similar to going up only the other way it was all divided up and we set off up round. Our cobber with the dust absorbthe Hodder, preceded by swarms of ing. diesel-fuming cattle truck arrived Hutt Valleys and Tararuas. The valley promptly at six and soon we were in became more barren and gorgy as we Blenheim with about five hours to kill progressed upwards, the stream before our plane left at 12.30. Blenespecially in its upper reaches. dropping heim possesses all the amenities typical very steeply. Just below the camp site of a small New Zealand town after there is a deep gorge and a waterfall 10.00 on a holiday night, so this wasn't which must be sidled. We went a short easy. but after talking to a parrot, a way up to have a look at the waterfall baboon. and an inebriated bawler. as which was quite ugly. It rushed foaming well as going to a movie and drinking and roaring through a narrow gorge. several thousand milkshakes before 10.00 making a quite deafening noise and closing time, we went bv bus to the airhammering with tremendous force on port and were soon back in Wellington. the narrow walls which enclosed it: it Those on the trip were Penny Rickard. was not difficult to see how the deer Marearet Webb, Bruce Jefferies (Trip gorges all down the river had been Teader). John Patchett, Gary Lund. Ken formed. McNatty. Alan Higgins, Murray Hall. -Murray Hall. After climbing round through the matagowri and tussock beside the gorge * we made camp in a ribbonwood thicket "SAFETY IN THE MOUNTAINS" which contained the best campsite in the Club members are reminded that vallev they and was situated at 4000 ft., each are entitled toa free copy of "Safety in of the three peaks being an easy day the Mountains". Ron Fayle is the man from it. to ask.