The Clyde (Erewhon)

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THE CLYDE 6th SEPTEMBER: Diary reads as several chamois bounded off up ahead From behind a large perpendicular with graceful ease. The ridge gained slab of rock a piece of slate slithered height by a series of steps which were and then twisted off into the void. A broken enough to climb direct or chuckle followed, and Jim appeared sidled by means of short traverses and adjusting his knickers. snow guts back on to the ridge. "A squat with a view," he says. Lunch at eleven in a wind funnel The sun had just risen and the valley under a large slab was hurried as the far below turned from black to chalk- final ridge now turned to the north white and finally disappeared while ending in the summit. Gaining this nits were scratched for and kara- ridge we now had a clear view into the biners adjusted. Jim, Dave and myself, Havelock. Heavy cloud was envelophaving left camp in the early hours ing D'Archaic to the west and Malcolm of the morning, had now reached the to the north. We postponed our nevertop of a prominent bluff which fell into to-be camera stop, and a snow plug the headwaters of two steep diverging along a broad shelf brought us below streams. Before us a snow arete snak- the summit which was quickly gained. ed away and upwards, ending in a Cloud was silently enveloping peak jumbled mass of blocksand gendarmes. after peak, while a moanful dirge es- Far off in the distance we could see caped from a cleft in the ridge. Thus the same ridge sweeping away to the three shaggy heads nodded in agreenorth and ending in two plump snow ment, traverse failed and we soon disdomes-our objective. appeared over a small cornice off the Spirits were high as the week be- shelf and plugged steps down a steep fore had been of disappointment-a snow gut to a basin below. More than high camp just below the Lawrence three hours followed, either climbing glacier followed by a miserable attempt from one leg hole to the next or colin bad conditions on the Lawrence, lapsing with laughter on the snow as recce. on Arrowsmith and being battered one of us, usually Jim, disappeared up by high winds in a tin bivvy for two, to his chest in snow and had to be dug a sardine can for four. Unfortunately out. Many "bl lls" and cries for Bill with his bad feet, he could of despair later we regained the not enjoy. this release from pungent pits above our tent and like yoddeling -OeE and remained behind. gees" we sped down to the camp, ac- Still unroped with the morning sun companied by the traditional boulders, casting gnome-like shadows on the rocks packs, ice axes, spaniard grass and flaybefore us, we soon gained height and ing arms. Tales were related to Bill the valley floor disappeared into the who had managed to do everything but haze. A small spikelet necessitated the fold the tent up. Packs again hoisted use of the rope and curses were uttered and we get off in anticipation of spend- ing the last day in recluse on the other and rain but drugged with the thoughts side of the Clyde, some half-hour tramp of civilized pastures in Christchurch, and away. bed. A rest day followed with some of Fellow Erehwonians, Jim Kettlewell, the bush inhabitants snoring away to Dave Thompson, Bill Cronin and myself the accompaniment of the rain, others can recommend transport laid on by just stirring wonderful mixtures into "Money-mad Mick", who runs a courpuddles on the tent floor. Thirty-six ier service from Christchurch to Erehhours later, still being subjected to wind won.- Roger Foley.