Pukematawae Spur - Triangle Knob (15-17 May)

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PUKEMATAWAE SPUR-TRIANGLE KNOB (15-17 May) On Friday we left John's large party packed with Masterton bods and one at the Pipe Bridge and departed with of our bods, Mac Riding. lost his state anguished minds for South Ohau-our of misogyny by allowing the strange ruthless trip leader's destination for the female species to sleep on either side of night. After a relatively fast trip into him! Ohau, Peter announced it would be impossible for Ken, Alan. and himself On Sunday morning the deputy trip to continue that night owing to bad leader again bounced enthusiastically out eyesight, poor toches, etc. but that they of his sack in the darkness (6.30 a.m.), would follow us up the river at first putting on a brew and packing his light. bundle. He announced "to hell with Daniel". at least we will do Puke- The river was up somewhat. and matawae Spur? After a hurried breakafter half an hour the rain began to fast, we left for "Puke" at various times. make matters even more unpleasant. arriving at the top more or less together. Our torches ranged from poor to non- to be greeted by some lovely white stuff existent. the non-existent occurring every falling. Mac and Paul promptly praised time the deputy leader put his foot on Huey for this great sacrifice while others a wet sloping rock. He afterwards shivered in horror. claimed that he at least showed the others whether or not it was possible All was forgotten as we plunged down to clamber around each pool in the our chosen route, and after threegorge-by falling in and testing the quarters of an hour Mac could be quoted depth. There was one particularly funny as saying he could spit into the Mangaincident when he led the way around hau. The vegetation was surprisingly a log jam and was found upside down. good, but certain people kept on taking pack over head. muttering all the the wrong route, while Jennings abused obscenities he knew! the deputy leader regardless. Our Dutch friend delighted in filling his rifle with By 1.30 a.m. the first four had arrived mud and dropping rotten logs on a but it was not for a further 75 minutes scared Paul. However, after expert navibefore Linda and an irate Jennings ar- gation, we arrived at the forks. followrived with two Taurarua's. who were ing the spur to the bitter end. At this coming on the trip with us. stage we wondered if we could reach Next morning the deputy leader the Pipe Bridge by 4.30 p.m. It soon bounced out of his bunk to the tune became obvious we would not as the of tremendous banging on the roof- Taurarua's were not at all keen on river "still raining"-and announced that the travel. To make matters worse. we were trip would run. Soon after, however. horrified to learn that the girl liked our two bedraggled Masterton boys-the club better than the Taurarua Club be- "Bogwog" and Neil Craig-stumbled cause the boys swore more!!! into the hut and related their story of Anvway. by 4.55 we had all reached how they had missed the hut and con- the Pipe Bridge to find that the truck tinued up the South Ohau. They had was late anyway. come to the waterfall and decided to wait until morning. The "Bogwog" spent P.S.: What happened to Ken. Peter. the night talking to a dripping punga. and Alan? while Neil attempted to sleep. Their story is that they could not get The river was still rising and it was up the river so they went up Gable End doubtful whether Peter and Co. would to Waiopehu Hut, but I still don't know make it, so we decided to leave for Te whether to believe them or not. After Matawae Hut, where we would wait all, the main Masterton party came up for them-presupposing that they would the Ohau on Saturday morning! come via Gable End. We waited Saturday and Saturday night, but there was Those on the trip proper: Bill Cronin still no sign. Mutterings from sleeping Henk, Nick, Paul, Mac Riding, Linda bags could be heard-"Daniel has Redmond, and two Taurarua's. Others piked". "the dirty rotten swine", "you Peter, Ken. and Alan. wait until I see him!" The hut was -Paul Green.