Hopkins Christmas, 1965

Machine-read text (unproofread)

Read from the scans by software, so it contains mistakes. Typing it up properly would help blind readers: use Suggest an edit.

* HOPKINS CHRISTMAS, 1965 The weather at Wellington Airport at mas Day was spent dividing food, check- 7.30 a.m. on Christmas Day was less ing gear, feeding up the two abovethan perfect as Kev and I (after being mentioned and mourning the loss of one pestered by a young lady on the loud Christmas cake, inadvertently left by speaker system, who would persist in Kev, on a ledge at Christchurch Airport. calling us Mr and Mrs) boarded a plane We crawled into our tent that night for Christchurch where we connected with the intention of rising early to start with our flight to Mount Cook. on the first leg of our trans-alpine trip After just over two hours' journey to the Hopkins. we arrived at the Hermitage to be greeted Boxing Day dawned wet and miserby two bearded, burnt bods, whom we able, and after a short discussion the found on closer inspection to be Steve party decided to wait and see what and Ken, who had been climbing in the "Hughie" could dish up next. One night, area for the past fortnight and whom many brews and numerous games of we were now joining for three weeks in "Five Hundred" later, "Hughie" decreed the Hopkins. The remainder of Christ- that snow should fall, so it was decided that rather than waste more valuable party left for the head of the valley time waiting for a break in the weather, while our party elected to give the river we would travel by bus to the Hopkins a chance to fall during the night, and and there concentrate purely on climb- try it again in the morning. Later that ing. Therefore we left Mount Cook and afternoon the O.T.C's returned, wet and travelled to the shores of Lake Pukaki. bedraggled from an hour up the valley Here we were forced to waste yet an- where they had spent several cold nights other day waiting for transport to carry waiting for creeks to drop. us the fifty odd miles to Lake Ohau. The Next morning, after playing around rest of the day was spent lazing in the with ropes for a couple of hours in the sun and reading. icy river, we stood victorious in the true Late next afternon, four days after right bank. A steep ascent was made leaving Wellington, we took our first through beech forest, sparkling green steps into the Hopkins Valley. Above us and gold in the bright sunlight. Finally we could see the snow-covered peaks we burst out on to acres of steep rolling partly obscured by dark clouds, snow grass, broken occasionally by jag- We were in no great hurry to get ged rock outcrops, and dominated high up the valley as reports promised Ward and her white glacier shining brik rather unpleasant weather for the next liantly in the early afternoon sun. We set few days. However, early next morning, up a base camp on the bush edge and despite the freezing wind and driving made a short reconnaissance trip over rain, we proceeded up the river to Elcho the area we would be covering in darkhut where we spent the night with five ness next morning. After an early meal members of the Otago Tramping Club, we hit the sack before dark, setting the who kept us talking into the early hours. alarm for 1.30 a.m. Next morning the sun was shining and In no time at all we were up again as we began the short trip to Dodgers hastily preparing breakfast and making hut, the clouds at the head of the valley last adjustments to our gear. The crisp parted, allowing us a magnificent view morning air was a little more than bracof the three main peaks-Hopkins. ing, and we were pleased to be on our Black Tower, and Mckerrow. Accom- way, torches cutting through the night. panied by the O.T.C's, we moved on up Higher up, the snow had a hard crust the river, keeping an eye open for a and we were soon strapping on crampons. suitable crossing place. We found a rea- Slowly the eastern sky began to lighten sonable crossing and after a short walk and in no time the sun was breaking over along a huge shingle fan, arrived at the peaks on the other side of the valley. Dodgers hut to find Allen Higgins, Jim Kev and I spent some time debating over Kettlewell, Peter Goodwin and Colin exposures for a photo of Ward, now McNatty improving their sun tan. It much closer and pink in the first light had been nearly a week since we had of day. Jast seen them sOo there was much news By seven o'clock we were crossing the to be exchanged. The skies were darken- glacier directly under Ward which now ing as we bid the O.T.C's farewell on towered high above us. We spent some their way to the head of the valley. time searching for a suitable place to Within ten minutes it was raining and begin the climb and soon found a slab we half expected them to return. on the north wall that looked as though Rain continued for several days, break- "it would go". The climbing was good ing only occasionally to allow us a view here and our hopes rose. However, soon of Ward, a peak which, at that point, the quality of the rock began to dedominates the opposite side of the valley teriorate and we found ourselves and was the reason for the two parties scrambling up. great masses of shingle sitting patiently in Dodges hut. Several which finally led us to the ridge. Here Tongue and Meat parties have attempted the rock was extremely rotten. An exthe climb, but for various reasons have posure of over a thousand feet on the been forced to turn back. However, we southern side of the mountain forced us were hopeful. The rain continued for to search for secure belays which seemed some days and when the weather finally few and far between. At 2p.m., after began to improve, both parties made a twelve hours solid climbing, we found crash attempt to cross the river, which ourselves on a knob facing the magnifiwas by now, running high. After spend- cent buttress of the high peak. Time was ing some hours trying various likelv now pressing and the weather, until then places, we gave it up as a bad job and perfect, appeared to be changing for decided to part company. Allen and his the worse. We crouched behind a rock which offered protection from the icy raving about the glorious weather outwind which had now risen to gale force side. Slowly we emerged to find that the and discussed the situation. The climb- rain had blown over and that we had ing from this point appeared to be more been, for the past half hour, listening to severe than already experienced. This, the drops from the trees. None of us coupled with the late hour and change will ever camp under wet, dripping trees in weather convinced us it might be ad- again. visable to sacrifice the summit and turn Late in the evening the river had back. We began the descent via a gut dropped enough to allow us with some which had been noticed earlier in the difficulty, to cross, and we were soon day and which we hoped would lead drinking brews in Dodgers, with Colin, down to the ridge at the top end of the who had been unable to attempt Ward glacier. After about two hours' scramble as the soles of his boots had begun to and a plod through knee-deep snow we part from the uppers. were once more at the foot of the moun- Next day the two parties parted comtain, and in no time at all, back at the pany again, Allen and Co. intending a top of the spur on which our camp was short trip up the Elcho River. Our party situated, watching the sun disappear be- proceeded to the head of the valley where hind a great bank of cloud rolling in two members climbed Prudence while from the west. We arrived back at camp, the other two went for short walks phototo be greeted by Allen, Peter, and Jim, graphing the area. Next morning it was who had come up that day with the hope raining once more, and so, not wishing of smashing Ward next morning. How- to be trapped by flooded creeks, we ever, this was not to be. Later that headed back towards Dodgers hut where evening it began to rain and at first we spent another night before heading light we were madly packing in the hope out of the valley. that it would still be possible to cross The weather on the last day of our the river. However, when we reached trip was much the same as the first, the valley, the river was in full flood and as we drove off towards the tourist and so, in the freezing wind and driving lodge at Lake Ohau we all wished that rain, we proceeded to erect our small it was once more the first day of our tent. Seven persons in a three-man tent Christmas trip. is uncomfortable at the best of times, Those on the trip: Ken McNatty, Kev but this was hell! Eventually nature Moynihan, Steve Moynihan, John Moynicalled and some poor person went forth han. into the raging storm, only to return -J. Moynihan. * - If I was lost in the hills one cold wet If I was lot in the hills one cold wet night I would make a hut and make a night I would find a tree and light a fire. fire in the hut. My hut is made out of I would build a hut in front of it and I a tree. I make a bed out of my jacket. would wish I was at home. I saw the My friend was with me. I went in the fire flickering in the hut. I would hear morning with my friend. She is Susan. the wind.