Ascent of Mt. Hector (12-14 November, 1965)

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* ASCENT OF MT. HECTOR (12-14 November, 1965) Twenty-eight W.M.T.C. trampers met us over the top of the slip and through outside the railway station ready for the some of the best supplejack in the Taraascent of Mt. Hector under the guidance ruas. Some extraordinary types negotiated of our president Bill Rice. All waved, the supplejack without torches (bravado with tongue in cheek, at the departure or forgetfulness?). of the Tararua Club's transport with Camp was made below the cottage. eight trampers aboard. The suspension bridge across the Otaki Our bus took us only to the entrance was attempting to rival the leaning tower to the Otaki Gorge. A fast pace was set of Pisa, as the near bank had been underaiong the road until the new slip, the mined. The walk across is a new exresult of the previous weekend's deluge, perience with the upstream hand rail blocked our way. The intrepid attempted hitting the shoulder. to cross the slip but were forced back On to Field's the next day-up, up, up, by the slippery mud. Our chief guide led and up the hill. The new trampers were feeling the inclination of the Tararuas. was the fire that the chef was able to The fit types got to Field's before it be- put on five billies at once. gan to rain, but the slower ones had to don parkas. The stew proved that even selfappointed chefs can be successful, even The weather ruled out any attempt though it is suspected that part of his to climb Hector that day, though several success lies in taking sO long that keen types decided that they wanted stomachs could almost be heard more select company and moved on to out for food. crying Vosseler. Card playing, talking, sleep- On Sunday morning, after much ing, and eating was the programme for prompting from our the afternoon. leader, some of the party set out for the objective. Four Gary and the two Daves set out to battled their way through wind, rain, light the fire which, after much en- and hail to the cross on the top of couragement, blazed into the best fire Hector. Another four from Vosseler also ever in Field's. (It is a pity that the reached the top, and many more reached Tararua Club doesn't know how to build the top of Field's Peak. huts with chimneys which function in The trip down was uneventful. The the normal way instead of in reverse.) weather cleared somewhat, and the slip There were periods when the smoke blot- was crossed easily in daylight. ted out the opposite wall of the hut, and The weather did mar this but spells outside were needed to relieve the trust that the members. trip, I tears. We never were able to quite solve the club found prospective that even of the problem whether the door should lousy weather, can be tramping, fun. in be open and the window closed, or both open, or both closed, etc. But sO good -Mike Hollis. *