Hopeless (Easter 1967)

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HOPELESS Easter, 1967, was just like any other rock. Occasionally skiffs of snow lay Easter-it rained most of the four days over the rock and the exposure, except for the last day when everyone especially on the south side, was quite was going home. A plane trip to Blen- considerable. The final access to the heim and a conveniently bludged bus summit was gained by way of an even ride (that is a free one) saw two Tongue more cruddy gut. Although the view, and Meats on the shores of Lake Rotoiti which included the Sabine and Lake early on Good Friday morning. Rotoroa was excellent, we chose to As usual, the monotonous tramp ponder on the summit for only a short around the lake edge was interspersed while as the prevailing wind was beonly by the sound of the passing motor- ginning to swirl the mist around us. boats which, in contrast to us, trans The gut required even more patience ported their loads effortlessly to the head on the descent as we slid, backed and of the lake. Oh, for a lift! However, belayed down its loose, snow-covered, the tramp up the Travers was far from steep surface. The remainder of the monotonous, our minds being fully en- descent was fast and straight forward gaged in shuffling through the crowds down the tussock and later bush-clad of H.V.T.C's, C.T.C's, W.T. & M.C's, slopes to the headwaters of Hopeless etc., etc. The fatigue of such manoeuvres Creek where we spent the night at a called for an early camp at the mouth fly camp with fellow Tongue and Meats. of Hopeless Creek. Another early start on Monday and Saturday's activities consisted of a we were soon back at our camp in the side trip up Hopeless Creek in order to Travers, where we returned the hosreconnoitre the lie of the land around pitality of our previous night's hosts by Mt. Hopeless. Due to the misty condi- providing breakfast which by that time tions we were little the wiser when we was lunch as well. Thus suitably dined returned to our camp that evening. and wined the four of us set off in fast- The weather appeared to be on the improving weather for the lake head. improve on Sunday morning and from Our hopes of boat transport were, of an early start we managed to gain the course, in vain, making it necessary for Eastern Ridge on to Hopeless in two us to again partake in the tramp around hours from the Travers Valley floor, the lake shore ot the waiting bus at St. Three to four more hours were spent Arnaud. traversing along this winding, sometimes very narrow ridge of horrible cruddy IR.B. and N.G.