A Mighty Trip

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"A MIGHTY TRIP" Friday, 2nd September, 6.30 p.m. just poking up above the snow. The view Three packs and owners together with this time was so different it was hard to two spare tyres and various other bag- believe it was the same tract of coungage, stuffed themselves into and around try. From the dark green bush edge a green Standard Ten and left the upwards everything was just a glistening "Golden Coast" for the fleshpots of whiteness offset by that fabulous blue Palmerston North. sky that only snow covered country can Once round the round-about with produce. Peter hanging out of one window and With crampons, goggles and a smear Paul the other, leering and drooling at of snowcream we set off for the unthe "birds" on the corners. Twice round named peak which is the gateway to the -still we didn't do any good, so off to main range and so to Sawtooth Ridge. the coffee bars of Dannevirke. "Should The snow on this section of Hinerua do all right there even in our rough Ridge was quite hard in patches and our mocca!" crampons were biting perfectly although Well, even after spending a fortune the last steep climb on to the unnamed on coffee and toasted sandwiches our bump was gained after a deep snow luck was still out, but it didn't worry climb of one up, slide down two session. us for as we commiserated afterwards, Moving along to Ohvinga, we brewed they were all either too young or too up and sat baking in the sun until "Let's old!! go Goodwin" had us underway again. Eventually we ground our way into From here on large cornices had Ashley Clinton, which is on the eastern been built up on the west side of the foothills of the Ruahines, at about range (ask Paul), but we made good 11 p.m. and quickly bunked down in time, arriving at the Sawtooth section some huts at the end of the round (Mill about 2p.m. This small part of the trip Farm). So began the most interesting was certainly the most spectacular and an dabsorbing weekend's tramping I time absorbing as it took us six hours have done so far and I know both Peter of belaying singly over a pinnacle, then Goodwin and Paul Green agree with moving together to the next. These pinme. Our plan was to go up the Hinerua nacles are similar to the Broken Axe Ridge to the Main Range, along Saw- Pinnacles and Tararua peaks of the tooth Ridge, dropping off down to How- Tararuas, but perhaps a bit more exlett's Hut and back to Mill Farm by posed. After trying to sidle the first way of Tukituki River. bump we found it was quicker and safer The alarm went off at 4a.m. to a to continue right along the crest as the menacing sort of day, dark clouds cover- snow was more consistent. ed. our intended route and a cold wind As time slipped away we were having doing its best to keep us in our sacks. doubts about reaching Howlett's Hut But with mutterings of "We might as that night for, although we had the well go to Hinerua Hut at least", we recommended equipment for spending a were away by 6a.m. night out on the snowy tops, there wasn't On reaching the beginning of the a piece of flat ground big enough to bush, the weather started changing for pitch a tent and even sitting it out would the better and by the time we had ar- have been dicey. rived at Hinerua Hut all our hopes of Ruapehu turned red as we approached being able to stay there honourably had the last pinnacle, then black as darkness been smashed by the sun beating down fell and we tossed up whether to sidle and melting the snow around the hut. or continue up and hope we would be The steep climb from the hut to the able to get off the other side. Up we tops didn't seem so bad as we were keen went. Everything was beginning to freeze. to see the view. Another and perhaps Paul calls back "We are O.K." Phew!! more valid reason was Peter has only It was 8 p.m. and we stood on top of two speeds-fast and stop and he doesn't Tiraha with our view cut by the darklike using the latter very much. ness and swirling mist. From now on Memories of "that" Easter trip a would be just an anti-climax-so we couple of years back were refreshed thought. Leaving the main ridge we when we came to "the" camp site and cramponed our way down the spur tosaw the forked sticks of the fireplace wards Howlett's Hut, thankful that we had been there before. A little later we brightly, the full moon setting all the held a discussion and decided we must snow-covered ridges up in phosphorescent be wrong as we were going down too relief. The air was really crackling with quickly. A break in the mist put us right the cold so into our pits and tea at midand we sidled towards the correct ridge night. The end of a "real mighty" day. and as we were trying to decide whether Next morning Peter handed breakfast to camp or not (for not everyone was round to another great Kodak day. The convinced that we were on the correct usual talk preceded the leaving of the route) we arrived at the hut; 10p p.m., hut-"Wish we had another couple of sixteen hours from the car. days-shall we take some off work?", With tea prepared and cooked by Paul etc., etc. Taik is cheap-we headed for between dozes, a quick look outside to the Tukituki River and the green another unforgettable sight. The mist Standard Ten. had cleared and the stars were shining Gary Lund C G