Three Pass Christmas Trip

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THREE PASS CHRISTMAS TRIP A week in Carrington hut may not others set up a sort of Lawrence of be the best way to start a Christmas Arabia affair which passed for our camp. trip; when you intend going from the It was situated right on the pass and not Waimakariri to the Rakaia. But at least far from the shimmering waters of Lake you get plenty of rest and you realize Browning. We even had a little glissadyou are not the only ones just sitting ing practice on the overhanging snow at and waiting. During our stay we the lake edge. Gary and Paul went nocwandered far and wide, up and down turnal that night and climbed Mt. the valley, slept, took Norm's rifle for Augusta, arriving back for a few hours' frequent walks with no luck at all, sleep, then to awake to the sound of slept, celebrated New Year's eve in falling rain. Fortunately it didn't last true club fashion, slept, and cursed the long and as it cleared slowly we packed nor'wester which brought heavy snow at the same speed and dropped off at falls and spoilt many Christmas trips. the pass and into the Arahura. Eventually it cleared and there was Carrington Peak, well plastered, the hut Reasonable travelling down river to surrounded by snow, with the rivers find Pyramid hut just a heap of old working overtime to dispose of a week's iron, but farther down at Harman rain and snow. Creek, a brand new forestry hut. An easy bush sidle brought us to Styx At last the day had come and off we Saddle, which is not high but very went up the Taipoiti and over Harman swampy. The way down the other side Pass, pleased to be away and making the tells you that you are on the West most of the fine day. Easy going on the Coast. Renton hut turned out to be only pass and then a snowy walk to White- a last resort, but to compensate, there horn Pass where we collapsed and stood a new Forest Service hut not viewed the Cronin Icefall. While the marked on any map we could obtain. shutter-bugs waited, Norm tried to in- Next morning our last duce an avalanche with rifle fire but being day, and way of final insult, it rained. to no avail. On down the Cronin with by So off frequent stops for freshment and just we went, down the Styx to find Sandfly to sit and gaze and marvel at the good hut a heap of iron flat on the ground, weather, till eventually the last of us but sure enough, farther down on the arrived at Park Morpeth hut, nestling true left another Forest Service hut. in low scrub at the Cronin-Wilberforce Be warned, if you go this way, don't junction. believe what you read on maps regarding huts. Out to Lake Kaneirie where Next day everyone rushed off down some of the more cunning waited at the valley, everyone that is except me. head of the lake while Geoff cadged Norm, Geoff and Murray to have a a ridge with a friend from Antarctica look at Murchison from Weka Stream, to ring for taxis to take us to Hokitika. the rest to reconnoitre Unknown Col. Others pounded the hard road as though It couldn't last, and that afternoon over to remind themselves that civilization came the hogs' backs followed by heavy was with us again. rain and back came the main party to So ended our trip which, with everythe hut, leaving Norm, Geoff and Mur- one's help and good leadership, was ray ensconced in a forestry hut at Weka thoroughly enjoyed by all. Stream. That night brought torrential rain of 6 inches in 6 hours, so next Gary Lund (leader), Paul Green, Rosemorning we filled the hut with wood, mary Chittenden, Valma Ireson, Geoff retired to the sack and waited. Carr, Dave Ryrie, Lindsay Cuthbertson, Murray Hall, John Watts, Brian Hunt, By the afternoon of the second day Norman Whiteside, and Bill Rice. the rain eased and we prepared to go -Bill Rice. over Browning Pass the following day. To everyone's amazement next day was * * * fine and away we went for a rocky scramble on to Browning Pass to be joined there by the Weka Stream contin- If I was lost in the hills I would gent. and look for a nice warm hut to keep go We had to climb at least one peak, warm in. I like tramping but I am never so, while sôme rushed up Mt. Harman, going tramping again.