Avalanche Flats, 22-24 May 1970

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* AVALANCHE FLATS 22-24 MAY 1970 This is the tale of a trip that "did the trip"; in which passing reference is made the Mangahao. The ranges were largely to those that did not do theirs. obscured by clouds, iand we clearly had The successful trip was comprised of: the best of the weather. Peter Reid, David and Owen Cox, Mike Reaching the river, we decided on Bain, Jon Spink, Dave Ryrie, who reaching Avalanche flats hut rather than joined us at the road-end, and our pitching tent where we were. After 30 leader, Warren Thorburn. minutes of good travel, we decided to The three trips and Transport Only take to the track on the true right bank; merchants were dropped at Ohau bridge, however, this proved disastrous, for and we decided to look no further for someone immediately lost his torch, and accommodation that night. we never found the track. Before you Saturday, and the fit trip was away could say "Jack Robinson" everyone whilst the others slept in, Dave trans- except Peter, who knew what he was porting our packs as far as the Wai-iti doing and pressed ahead, was flounderstream. From here - Red Line country ing around in circles. for everyone we soon passed through We returned to the Mangahao; and the farmland and into bush. This was after half an hour who should appear fairly thick at first, but later we were coming to meet us but Peter, in his able to keep to the stream bed, and brand new maxi-parka, returning from make good progress. After about two the hut ten minutes away. Saturday night miles we had several unscheduled tramping after dark, and no wood fire smokos where the Wai-iti forked, whilst at the end of it might not seem a very the more energetic amongst us went cheerful prospect. Nevertheless we were ahead to determine which fork to take. too tired to really worry about a fire, However, by about midday that's what and after a tea cooked on primuses somecomes of a 9 a.m. start- we had lunch. one was persuaded to tell us a bedtime Then, after Peter's "I-always-give-them- story. It soon became apparent, however, out-ncar-running-water" boiled Christ- that we were more in the mood for mas sweets all round, we headed up the sleep. ridge to Tawirikohukohu, to the east of By 9.30 a.m. we were headed for Square Knob. By the time we reached a Ohau. After reaching Girdlestone Saddle, six-foot vertical ascent, which wasn't we soon dropped down to the south quite as bad as it looked, the view branch of the Ohau river, and made a towards the sea was opening up. The brew at south Ohau hut. Whilst some track was a good one considering how of us carried on downstream, several little it must be used, and the weather stayed to tidy the hut. One wonders how was perfect. On reaching Tawirikohu- thoughtless the previous occupants could kohu, on the Main Range we felt we have been. had accomplished great things. At Ohau we found the other trips just Its amazing how the time slips by as we had left them nearly 36 hours though, isn't it? At this stage there was before -in the pits! Incidentally, they less than three hours of daylight left. included several individuals (no names: Fortified with some of Warren's "slugs", no pack drill) currently considered to for which everyone had a sweet tooth, be amongst the "tigers" of the club. we set off along the east ridge, towards JON SPINK.