Waihohonu to Erua, Queen's Birthday Weekend

Machine-read text (unproofread)

Read from the scans by software, so it contains mistakes. Typing it up properly would help blind readers: use Suggest an edit.

Waihohonu to Erua Queen's Birthday Weekend A sharp 6 p.m. getaway on the Friday the far side of the lakes, Russell Falto Ruapehu from Wellington had reper- coner, Garth Christensen, Jon Spink cussions Queen's Birthday Weekend. carrying on up Ngauruhoe. The remain- One trip member nearly missed the bus, ing eight went on to the Upper Tama and the Masterton Tramping Club mem- Lake, which was lightly iced over, bers who were to meet the bus at Himi- climbed on to the ridge and over to the tangi missed it altogether due to a Lower Tama Lake where bacon stew misunderstanding of our departure time was prepared for tea, and, when the from Wellington. The long stop at San- four round-the-lakes trampers arrived, son, in an endeavour to trace M.T.C. tents pitched. It was bitterly cold, the led to the discovery of a shop which sells sun having set behind the hill. The sight excellent home-made meat pies. of snow down to the edge of the lakes The further north we travelled, the was new to most members of the trip, colder the weather became, but the and it was a really beautiful sight, seen warmer the atmosphere in the bus, as by most people in New Zealand only in would-be pikers aired their views and photographs. By 6.30 p.m. we were in endeavoured to transfer to the ski party. the pit in an endeavour to get warm. Barbara Wheeler had done so before Seven p.m. saw the "guns" in from leaving Wellington; others decided the Ngauruhoe; 2 hours 10 minutes up and club hut would be a more pleasant way 50 minutes down was their effort, which of spending the weekend, particularly as they felt was well worth it. The arrival it appeared it was going to be half in the dark posed a problem for one of empty. However, trip leader's persuasive the "guns". He knew that water was manner kept the trip to its total of 15. collected from the lake, and on asking Travelling through Waiouru showed its whereabouts from John, and the use us we were going to have a "white" of a torch, was told to follow the foottramp, the ground being well covered prints. He could only fall into the lake with snow, Ruapehu looking very majes- if he wasn't careful. Half an hour later tic with a full coating. a plaintive voice asked if the torch could The bus left us at the beginning of be kept, but there was no water, because the Waihohonu track, on a beautiful the "Gun" hadn't been able to find the clear crisp night at 12 p.m., and 1.30 a.m. lake! All 5-10 acres of it. We never did found us in the pit after a good hot brew, find out which way he went. Needless which was waiting for us on arrival at to say he was well advised of its position the hut. A Landrover had passed us at next morning. the beginning of the track and the two Sunday morning dawned bright and blokes in it had a billy boiling for us. clear, although extremely cold until we John was up. at 7 next morning and were in the sun. David Minard did the soon had the billy boiling again for the honours with the brew, which was a early brew. The cameras were soon click- good warm start for the morning, and ing, as the sun's rosy glow spread over 9.45 saw us on our way up the track Ngauruhoe and Ruapehu, a really beau- from the Lake, headed towards the tiful sight. We start off towards Tama Chateau. We reached the Chateau at Lakes at 9 a.m. through the snow- midday after a wonderful trip through covered bush, Jenny O'Brien being parsnow the whole way to the Taraticularly energetic and frisky, snow- CORTT Falls, which are half an hour before balling the trip, for the first hour or so the Chateau. Here we passed "Captain anyhow. America" wide brimmed straw hat, Looking back along the ridge as we blue jeans, pack and a rug over shoulder. tramped towards Ngauruhoe, the views He said he was going to Waihohonu hut were extensive with the Kaimanawas and that night. He was the first of a score of Ruahines standing out clearly with a peasants we passed before reaching good covering of snow; the camera civilization. Lunch was eaten on the fiends had a field day. lawn outside Park H.Q. while we The day was very warm, not a cloud watched Mr. and Mrs. N.Z. and family in the sky, and it was not very long driving up the Bruce Road to view the before all members were into shorts and snow. The lawn was ideal for drying out singlets. tents and airing pits. Seven guns elected to climb Ngauru- Here the trip split again with four hoe but while lunch was being eaten on members of the trip taking the "goat" the saddle at the foot of the Mount, four up the Bruce to take the track down decided they would prefer to go round to Whakapapaiti hut while the rest of the trip took the track from the Chateau. doing the honours with the brew, and However, Whakapapaiti was a little we were on our way to Erua at 8.30 a.m. over-populated; there were 40 bods there The weather was not as bright nor as already so it was a return trip down to warm as it had been, neither was the Alex's bivvy for the night. One tent was track as good as the previous two days. pitched, but the rest managed to bed However, it was still pleasant tramping down in the hut, with one calamity - nd at 10.30 a.m. we were viewing the one bunk, not quite equal to its task, countryside from the lordly heights of duly collapsed during the evening. With Hauhungatahi at 41 thousand feet, kneesome improvisation it was made deep in snow. Egmont stood clearly "usable". Two others, double bunking, above the low cloud. roped themselves on to the bunk to A soup stop was had down at the ensure staying put. During the evening bushline. At 12.30 p.m. the first group one "keen" type discovered she had mis- arrived at the Main Road at Erua. Here laid her knitting! A quick trip back we were invited into the home of Mr. up to Whakapapaiti recovered this and and Mrs. Heath who gave up a cup of a parka also left behind the previous tea and a plate of cakes and the warmth afternoon. of their front room fire for two hours Early morning start on Monday, would while we waited for the bus. A first rate you believe 4.30 a.m. (unintentional- finish to a wonderful trip. should have been 5.30 a.m.) with John VAL MCGLASHAN. stew and a bit of a bark around the fire