Ruamahanga-Waingawa

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RUAMAHANGA-WAINGAWA On Friday night the bus arrived late, possibility to climb out on to Cattle and as if that wasn't bad enough, many Ridge leading up to Waingawa. seats were found to be quite draughty. After lunch we went back to the One window was soon blocked up with cairns and found the track between the a jersey. On arriving at Bruce Road, two branches of the creek. About threenobody was in a hurry to get out of quarters of an hour later, after losing the bus as we now found it was quite the track once, we found ourselves on warm compared with the cold outside. Cow Saddle, where we dropped packs Consequently, nearly all of us started and went exploring up Cattle Ridge. The walking in our longs. ridge in one place was reminiscent of When we arrived at the two hills be- the Liverpool Bivvy track in the Matukifore the Pines, we had a little conference tuki. Above the bushline we had beautiabout whether we would choose to cross ful views of Mitre, Te Mara, Blue the Ruamahanga River or climb over Range, Pukehino and Cattle Ridge. the wo hills. As a result, we went down Leaving this sunny vantage point, we to the river to find that we had only rapidly found our way to Cow Creek to walk 100 yards up the river bed and hut, more quickly than any of us would would need to cross it twice. Knowing have thought. As we started the usual that it wasn't too far to the Pines, I communal stew, the chief guide turned decided to take my socks off as well as up direct from the Carey search. We my longs. After crossing the river, the shared our stew with Peter, which must melodious sound of squelching boots have disagreed with his stomach, since accompanied us, some directly and some we did not see him until after lunch on via a bog, to the Pines. Sunday. Kevin and Euan slept in the old shed, About 8.30 on Sunday morning we where they must have had a warm night, set off for Mitre Flats Hut and arrived and Bill of course wore his pyjamas there about 11.00. Mike Hollis and I set again. In the morning we woke Kevin off to climb Mitre but were turned back and Euan after we had eaten our break- by the wind below Peggy's Peak. The fast by throwing stones on the roof of cnow was quite soft and the wind cold. the shed. Back at Mitre Flats Hut we had lunch with the rest. Jim turned up with his After following the track carefully party from Cow had been the Creek-they through bush to the Ruamahanga, unable to complete their trip and had we had a rest and started to kid the stayed in Bannister Basin Hut. trip leader and Euan by telling them Back at the Pines, Mike and I started that we were in Cleft Creek the trip the road walk to the bus and unknowleader had not been there before. I think ingly passed the others at the shed. Linda blieved us for a while!!! We walked about half a mile, We duly arrived at the proper Cleft meet an empty bus. Surprise! only to Creek and went Surprise! up it a little way for a However, we were soon reunited and left reconnaissance. The choice lay between for home, an enjoyable behind us. sidecreek and trip a a spur. We decided to Those on the trip: Linda Redmond, take the spur and set off only to be Kevin Harvey, Vivian Jamieson, Alan forced back into the creek half an hour Thompson, Alan Anderson, Mike Hollis, later. WE! Ross Ward, Dave Metcalfe, Euan Nicol. When we came to a major junction, -David Ryrie. we were all quite baffled by the two + * * cairns which appeared to point up the true left branch. With a little uncer- PRESS RELEASES tainty we headed up this branch. A At its August meeting your commitshort while later we passed over the tee decided that in future no information debris of a huge slip which must have was to be given to the Press, radio or been about 800 feet high (i.e. the slip, any other news media without the apnot the debris). Shortly after we stopped proval of a committee member. The for lunch, since the creek had started reason for this is that the committee is to steepen and we thought that we may responsible for any impression gained by have been in the wrong branch of Cleft the public of our activities and it must Creek. Kevin and Linda went up the have control of any information given creek further to find the first of the two under the club's name. waterfalls marked on the map and also -W. Rice (Presidènt) found that it would be almost an im- * * *