Kelliher Flats - Waitewaewae (June 24-28)

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KELLIHER FLATS-WAITEWAEWAE (June 24-28) The bus left the station at the usual up early and noisily on their way. We time. With three trips aboard, the bus followed on behind again. It was a perwas so packed that most of the girls sat fect morning and everyone thought that on the boys' knees. The medium trip we were in for a fine weekend. At South people were dropped off up the Gorge Ohau, Fraser and Stephanie went up Road and the bus continued on up to Butcher's Creek for a brew while the Ohau. As soon as the bus stopped all rest of us pushed on up Yates' Track. the "Northern Main Drag" blokes were Patches of snow lay round as we climbed off as quick as possible to grab all the higher. At the top we found Lyle Mason best tent sites. Our trip followed on be- who had decided that he would come on hind. We all camped up-stream from the fit trip instead of the Northern Main Ohau hut. Range as he was suffering from cramp Saturday morning saw the FE boys in both his legs.

We then moved on to the newly-cut out by nightfall. However, the rain pertrack down to the Otaki. At the bottom sisted but we continued until we were we had a brew and some lunch and confronted with a narrow but very fast Lyle was given a drink of salt and water. moving side stream. Linking up we After lunch we set off down the cold edged our way out into the swirling Otaki River. In a short time we again water with Fraser out in front. Suddenly met up with Fraser and Stephanie who Fraser was chest deep in water. It still had come over Butcher's Knob. After amazes me how the shorter people manfour hours of river travel we reached aged to cross. Kelliher Flats. Snow lay the whole way Keeping to the track the was round the hut which was of the same de- reasonable except for the odd going as hairy sign many forestry huts in the Tara- bluffs and slips. The next ruas. prominent landmark we arrived at was the forks Val, Rosie, and Hilary cooked up a of the Waitewaewae and Otaki Rivers. beaut stew and with a bit of double At this point some of the heavier boys bunking all members of the party hit the tried to cross in several places but withpit. Extremely heavy rain fell all night. out success. After some chocolate and All the members of the party were scroggin we moved farther down the up early on the Sunday. A community river until arriving at a very wide ford breakfast of rice and apricots was just above Waitewaewae hut. Murray rounded off with Milo brew. By about and seven others then attempted to cross. 9a.m. the party was ready to set off. The water rose around their chests but The river was running very high from without incident they reached the oppobank to bank. With Murray in the lead site bank. Now it was our turn. With we climbed high above the river and Fraser at the up-stream end we edged bush whacked it for about an hour and our way into the freezing water. The a half. When we eventually dropped last few yards we just seemed to drift back to the river we found to everyone's across. amazement that it was flowing in the Thanks to the two cullers in the hut wrong direction. Murray informed us it there was a billy boiling almost as soon was not the Otaki, but Kelliher Creek, as we arrived. They also assisted by givwhich we crossed without trouble by ing up venison for a stew. The four linking arms. girls again cooked it magnificently. While waiting for it to cook Hilary showed us On the other side we came across the actions to the song "Six Little another new section of track which made Ducks". Most could have eaten more the going very much easier. After about but, as the saying goes, "beggars can't an hour and a half the track disappeared be choosers". and we began bush whacking again. By For breakfast on we had one this time the river was in full flood, so egg and one slice of Tuesday bread each, it was decided to return to Kelliher which the party pushed off after Flats for the night and arrived back at civilization. towards the hut in the late afternoon. Coming out over the plateau we met Dave Capper coming in to find Everyone's remaining food was pooled his "long lost" wife. Brian Fugle had by to make it last longer if the need arose. this time reached the ranger's house so The girls prepared a stew from what that when we arrived there was a "cupa" was left, consisting of dehy. sausage meat, ready. mince, beefsteak stew and bacon. What Rosie and Val went home with the a terrific stew! We have certainly got Cappers while the rest caught taxis into some good cooks in the club. Everyone Otaki, the first stop being Wong's Cafe hit the sack with a full stomach. where huge plates of steak and eggs were ordered all round. The trip con- Murray was first up on Monday and cluded with a ride by railcar into soon Welhad a roaring fire going. Rosie lington, arriving 61 p.m. Tuesday cooked up a large billy of porridge Ken Churchill. evening. which went down very well. By this time the river was down compared with the Those on the trip: Hilary Capper, day before and we proceeded down the Stephanie Carrad, Val Ireson, Rosie Chitriver bed. After crossing Kelliher Creek tenden, Murray Brown (trip leader), we again got on to the new track and Brian Fugle, Keith Dick, Neville Taylor, were able to make quite good progress. Stan Boyd, Lyle Mason, Fraser Walls, Most people had high hopes of coming Ken Churchill, and Harry Percival.