Christmas with 60lb Packs

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CHRISTMAS WITH 601b. PACKS Three weeks tramping with packs no followed down the north bank, on a more than 60lbs-could it be done? track overgrown at first but later, re Our solution was to do three trips. This cently cut. We passed White's and is how it went. Squid's Huts and, after some magnificent views of the gorge, came to the grass- Trip 1 land where we camped. Planned for eight days, plus two rest We realised we had only enough food days. On Saturday, 23 December, 1967 to get back to Klondike Corner if the our party of five left Klondike Corner weather was good. Friday morning was and tramped up Jordan Creek, across spent in Klondike shopping and thai the low Jordan saddle to reach Avoea afternoon we followed the old mines Hut. Next day began with a steep climb road to Grassy Flats Hut at the start of and then along a gentle hanging valley a reversed Three Pass trip. The next day to Half Moon saddle. The valley was was spent at Grassy Flats. full of mist and we were forced to On Sunday we set out for Park Molcamp. About 5 p.m. the mist lifted and peth Hut. Lunch was had beside Lake a route to the pass was discovered. Browning and Mike and Dave had a Christmas Day was misty again but swim in the lake. On the descent of we found the and crossed as snow Browning's Pass we met the Hutt Vaiwas falling. Thete was a long skree ley's and in Park Morpeth Hut, the descent to Bristed stream where the Tararau's. The weather now changed for upper gorge had to be sidled on the the worse and we were stuck at Park left until the bushline was reached. Morpeth Hut until Tuesday morning. Early afternoon saw us in the Wilber- We crossed to Carrington in fast time, force, but we had to search for a cross- in cold conditions. White Horn Pass was ing point. That night we camped beside clear but Hannon's Pass was blocked a derelict bivvy in the Griffiths. out by mist. Fortunately Dave and Tuesday was brilliantly fine. Around Hugh had been there before and we the second bend in the Griffiths we saw found the cairn. On Wednesday morn- Clarkes Pass high on our right. The ing we left Carrington and returned to guide book said go to the snout of the Klondike Corner. glacier and climb directly to the The trip had taken 12 days instead We thought it looked easier to Clint of the planned 10, but we felt we had gradually to the pass, but had to gone farther on the first three days than negotiate a rock bluff and then more on previous trips and that the lighter impossible skree. So down we came and packs were paying dividends, with betfollowed the guide book route. In all ter knowledge of the route and times we wasted about 14 hours. By 1.30 we beforehand we could easily have done were on the pass after a steep climb. the trip in 10 days. The descent to the Kokatahi River was For interest and future planning here through a series of basins and then are our times for the various stagesdown the left bank of the Clarkes long stops for lunches and brews not Stream. The map showed some hot included. springs near top Kokatahi but we DAY 1-Klondike Corner to Jordan couldn't find them. Saddle, 41 hours; to Avoea Hut, The next phase of the trip was to 21 hours. cross Lathrop Pass to Grassy Flats, but DAY 2-Avoea Hut to campsite in the weather was closing in again so we the Hanging Valley, 2 hours. decided to follow the Kokatahi to the DAY 3-Campsite to Half Moon Styx. The track to Twin Creeks was saddle, 14 hours; to Bristedovergrown and washed out and as there Wilberforce Junction, 21 hours; was so much stinging nettle, overto bivvy in Griffiths, 21 hours. trousers were the order of the day. Be- DAY 4-Bivvy, to Clarkes Pass (inlow Twin Creeks we became fouled up. cluding 11 hours wasted), 5 The map showed the track following the hours. river below the two creeks and then DAY 5-Top Kokatahi Hut to Crawclimbing to the bushline. We found ford Junction, 2 hours; to twin out later thate the climb begins between creek hut, * hour. the two creeks. That night was spent at DAY 6-Twin Creek Hut to White's Twin Creeks hut. Hut, 21 hours; to Squid's Hut, Next day we crossed the river and 11 hours; to road end, 11 hours. 1344

DAY 7-Road end to Grassy Flats, the Copeland River which can be cross- 24 hours. ed only in certain places. Then the DAY 8-Rest. West Coast bush is difficult to traverse DAY 9- Grassy Flats to Harmon's until an old track is found. Unfor- Hut, 2 hours; to Lake Browning, tunately this track ends in a water 2 hours; to Park Morpeth, 1t course. It is possible to get up the hours. Strauchan River from here, but the DAY 10-Rest. water is extremely cold. The return DAY 11-Park Morpeth to White- through Welcome Flats gave us another horn Pass, 3 hours; to Harmon opportunity to swim in the hot pools. Pass, # hour; to Carrington Hut, The third trip was planned to be in 1 hour. the Tasman Mountains, but we had spent DAY 12-Carrington to Klondike too long on the first. Nelson Lakes Corner, 3t hours. then provided our last trip. A short The second trip was one of six days trip to the 5th basin then down Cascade in the Copeland River. After the 4-hour Creek and around Lake Rotoiti finished trip to Welcome Flats, a soak in the hot off our Christmas trip. was enjoyed despite the sand- We all liked this type of phased trips prots The next day was an easy one with relatively light packs. A car was to Douglas Rock. Saturday was fine and used to store the unwanted food and to we climbed with day packs to the Cope- get from place to place. Next Christmas land Pass. Here we sat in the sun before the same scheme will be operated to glacading down again. other places. Sunday and Monday were spent in Those on the trips: Mike Hollis, Hugh fruitless attempts to get up on to the Middleton, Dave Ryrie, John Campbell, Strauchan Glacier. First obstacle was and Graham McCready. -M.J.H.