Tararua 5000 Footers

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TARARUA 5000 FOOTERS This write-up is long overdue, but I By this time Graham was suffering decided that a permanent record of the sométhing terrible (his turn to play sick), first successful attempt of this marathon but after a certain amount of coin tosstrip should be recorded. ing and mutual agreement, he was con- Towards the end of last summer we vinced that he did not have appendicitis waited for the right weekend. The and would probably live. As our party weather map proved favourable for the trudged round Jumbo, the sky turned last weekend in March so four keen to a brilliant red, which gave us that young bucks were wished "Good luck" good-to-be-alive, good-to-be-in-the-hills by Colin McNatty who drove us to Ohau feeling. Two hunters were hailed, but Pipe Bridge, the start of our trip. did not warrant a stop-an action that About 7p.m. Graham Westerby, Paul was to be regretted later. Torches were Green, Neil Gray and myself left for produced at the Mt. Holdsworth trig South Ohau on a fine but dark night. and the route down the ridge to Powell We arrived without incident at half nine hut was soon picked out. and hit the sack for a few hours. Away Once inside Powell, I threw some from South Ohau at 4.30 a.m. Saturday food together while the others spun a morning after eating a power-packed trampers S myth to some Boy Scouts who breakfast by chef Green. seemed to be fairly gullable. The day dawned at Te Matawai hut Next morning, while Paul was cookand after a quick feed of chocolate and ing a 4 a.m. breakfast, a middle-aged scroggin, torches were packed and the American slipped down beside him and long climb on to Pukematawai started. spun a tale of woe about his two hunter Temperature: Bush singlet and shorts. mates who had not returned to the hut the previous night. A heated argument Visibility: Bloody miles. took place, Paul supported by his sleepy Velocity: What wind! cobbers. Party's condition: All going well ex- Yank: "You are experienced-it's your cept for me. duty to look for my buddies." I was taking first round at playing Tongue and Meats: "There is no need sick. to believe everything we told you last Packs were left on Arete at 7.30 and night." a quick trip over the Twins to Mt. Ban- Yank: "I'll drag your club's name nister, the first peak over 5000 feet. through all the local newspapers." Back to Arete, along Tarn Ridge, then and Meats: "You Girdleston was crushed. "It's faster with- Tongue objectionable out packs" trick was again tried and Yank." Brocket, Mitre, and Peggy's Peak all So it was decided Paul and Neil would went down in screaming heaps. Return- lock for Yank's buddies, while Graham ing back to Girdleston, we dropped into and myself would try and reach Mt. Ahern Saddle where Graham made a Hector and complete the trip. The fourbrew by a small tarn. A mighty brew it some paired off about 4.30 a.m. Sunday. was and much appreciated by his friends. Graham and I arrived at Mountain At half three the tarn was left be- House but decided to stay until the other hind and North King fell. Although not two came down so that we could commapped as being 5000 feet, Mid King plete this trip together. By 9a.m. looked fairly close to level with its there was no sign of Paul and Neil so northern triplet, sO just in case, we we decided to try and make up for lost climbed over its top instead of taking time and have a go at completeing the the sidle route through the tussock. Over trip. When crossing Pig Flat fresh foot- South King, Broken Axe Pinnacles and prints were spotted, so the other two on to the uphill drag to McGregor, the were in front-but how far ahead? The seventh 5000 footer on Saturday. Some chase was on, Paul and Neil chasing Hutt Valleys had climbed on to Mc- Graham and I, who were actually chas- Gregor from McGregor Bivy to watch ing them. Down Totara Creek, on down the sun set and some time was spent the Wahine River, over Cone Saddle to socializing before leaving for Angle Cone Hut. It took about three hours Knob and the last long climb for the from Mountain House to Cone Hut and day, Mt. Holdsworth. when we found no entry in the log book for Neil and Paul we felt like forgetting hut to tackle the painful climb on to the whole idea. Just then, a mob of Girl Mt. Alpha. Guides arrived. This left no doubt, out of the door, down to the river, Bull Our last reserves of energy were used Mound here we come. As we stood at in travelling the Dress Circle and finally the top of the high riverbank we saw Hector 5016 feet itself. We had come two bodys sprawled in the sun. This re- a long way from Mt. McGregor to climb union was the greatest moral booster of this last 16 feet over 5000 feet of mounthe whole trip. Paul and Neil had found tain. Yank's mates in Jumbo Saddle and had The memorial found Yank a little lost himself on the cross was patted and way back to Powell Hutt. We pushed on each other's hand were shaken. As we with new energy, so great is the relation- sat in the dark looking out at the lights ship of friendship. Mt Hector would cer- of Otaki a possum scampered down the tainly yield before this Sunday was over. slope. Certainly something unusual. Each of us knew that we could rely on Slowly we left for Kime Hut. There the others to travel the Southern cross- was nothing left in us now. Because of ing without piking and causing the trip the morning's little incident we knew we to fall through. would be too late to get out to any sort A first aid session On two pairs of of transport, so at 8.30 p.m. the sandfeet, a large feed, and an hour's rest man passed judgement upon us at Vosslater, the party disappeared into the ler Hut. bush and climbed toward Bull Mound. Monday dawned just as fine as the Nearing Hell's Gate it was Paul's turn two previous days. Paul went on out to to take a turn in the sick bed. We went the farmhouse while Graham and myself on to Alpha Hut to make a brew of soup stayed behind with Neil who had while Paul, by his own choice, "crawled" wrecked his left leg (his turn on the sick along after us. We spent an hour and bed). a half at Alpha and were grateful to a deer culler by name of Ken who waited Taxi, Otaki, beer, meal, beer, bus, on us hand and foot. Paul quickly re- Wellington. covered and by six o'clock we left the -Murray Brown