Mt. Roberts without the "S"

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MT. ROBERTS WITHOUT THE "S" On Friday, 20th August, Wellington Breakfast was under way before dawn, Airport was the meeting place for 10 then after sunrise photos, we set off to Tongue & Meats. Our destination, Mt. Relaxation Rocks Hut to pick up our Robert in Nelson Lakes National Park. gear. Forty-five minutes brought us to Perhaps our hostess did not take a fancy a splendid view of the second basin. Two to us, but in due course we arrived at accommodation huts, a rope tow and its Nelson Airport. sheds nestled in an unbroken basin con- Our host, Mr Chittenden (chairman sisting of various slopes suitable for all of the Nelson Lakes National Park) and skiers from beginners to the experienced. Robert Chittenden met us, making our Nelsonites began to arrive as we freed party 12 in number. Using a rental van the safety wire on the rope tow and very and a car, we headed off to the ski fields. soon we all discovered that this was a While changing, it was noted that the different type of snow from Ruapehu. natives wore long trousers. The T. & M's deemed shorts to be sufficient. The track During the night keas had tampered we followed had an even gradient, zig- with the edges of Brian Hunt and John zagging upwards through bush and open Patchett's skis, making them fear rightpatches until midnight when we reached hand turns. To get by they traversed and the bush edge. While we searched for the kick turned all day. snow poles the T. & M's realised the Lunch was prepared in one of the need for longs and gloves. Soon after huts while those wishing to photograph we arrived at Relaxation Rocks Hut those inquisitive keas did so outside, the where we left our ski gear before starting hut. We resumed ski-ing after lunch. the 10-minute walk down the ridge to Later, six of us set off to Flagtop, 20 Kea Hut on the bush edge. Kea Hut was minutes along the ridge from the top of built 35 years ago and is well equipped the tow; this gave us a view into the with 10 bunks, food, coal (air-drops), a third basin-there are five altogether. central stove and a small room for equip- Brian assured us that Mt. Camel was ment. visible on the St. Arnard Range, a bump U Mt. Robert ski weekend. Robert Chittenden, John Patchett, Rosemary Chittenden, Stephanie Carrard, Brian Hunt, Mike Hollis, Dan Lowe, Dick Simmonds, John Watts, Norm Whiteside, Val Ireson. Phota: Mr Chittenden he has climbed. Flagtop is the start of the hut and leaving for our skis. High the downhill runs. While at this view- winds were the worst at "windy gap", point we saw the antics of a local suicide but soon we had picked up our skis and squad consisting of two lots of three headed for the bushline. Ski-weekers people on ropes, addmittedly the slope coming up the track upset Norm, result was reasonable but why a third man had a crook ankle and a split up of his gear. spare rope around his neck we will never Soon we were loading the car and van know. and headed for St. Arnard township and Our return to the tow consisted of a the lake. Our trip back to Nelson was few traverses to loose height, then through the Golden Downs Forest. a-w-a-y to the tow for a few more runs After arriving at Rosie Chittenden's on what was now Dick Simmonds' pet place we had soup and toast, then toured aversion, the rope tow. Dick was near the city. Ever heard of wild ducks in the the top when he noticed his parka slowly Botanical Gardens-if not ask Dan. Next entering in the rope's yarns. He went stop the Cathedral, apart from being through the safety switch but the clutch mistaken for the touring French ski is slow in operating, so soon found him- party and losing Norm in a doorway, self wrapped around the pulley, his head we had an uneventful tour to the top of then appeared through a tear in the back Queen's drive. Shortly after we left Nelof his parka. Dan Lowe found this very son, the charming hostess making the amusing, and it was some time before trip home a pleasant climax to a wonder- Dick escaped from his mirth. Soon we ful weekend. set off for the hut, having the queer ex- Our thanks go to Rosie Chittenden perience of ski-ing over snow grass, and Mr Chittenden, who made arrangelike riding a bike along a railway track. ments for the use of Kea Hut, owned by While tea was prepared and cooked, Nelson Ski Club, also to the Nelson Ski most of us walked to Bush Line Hut Club for putting up with those Wela few minutes away. A splendid view of lingtonians in "rough mocka". Lake Rotoiti was seen before dusk then Those on the trip: Mr Chittenden, the weather closed in. Robert Chittenden, Rosie Chittenden, A tiring day it was, sO lights out at Val Ireson, Stephanie Carrard, John 9p p.m. Patchett, Brian Hunt, Mike Hollis, Dan Foul weather greeted us on Sunday, Lowe, Dick Simmonds, Norm Whiteresult a sleep in, breakfast cooked in side. stages before packing up and cleaning -John Watts *