Winter Southern Crossing, August 1970

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Winter Southern Grossing I August 1970 On a wet'and blowing Friday evening ground slowly up Hut Mound, Field in early August, we climbed aboard the Peak, and finally Hector was crushed. Kombi and headed for "The Forks". It was bitterly cold, with soft powder Aboard the gallant little wagon were snow and a mad gale to contend with. myself, Lindsay Cuthbertson, Kevin However, practically no ice. A quick Thompson (Leader), Ian Nielson, Jon conference, "continue" was the unani- Spink and Arthur Jonas. Pete Reid was mous decision, so on we went, iced unable to make it at the last minute and up glasses making life particularly one person failed to put in an appear- unpleasant. ance. On Aston a slight pause "where have We were rather gloomy and depressed Kev and Arthur gone?" Lindsay and because the drag to Fields is not a good John to the rescue again. We were rething to contemplate at the best of lieved about 10 mins later to have the times, let alone a scungy night like this. errant pair catch up from the rear and However, not to worry, at Porirua the surge ahead again. On over Alpha and rain had stopped and by Otaki the moon down to the Hut. Smash the ice on was cut. So after all, we had a decent the bunk, and have a brew. None of night of it. us were really cold or even exhausted to any degree. However, with the tea Kev, Lindsay, myself and Arthur prepared and the fire going we climbed arrived at Fields to expect a brew from into the pit, till it was time to dine John Addison and Val McGlashan, and and get bloated on a solid Addison to this end, we ensured that they were stew. Fantastic stuff! well prepared for our arrival. The volume of noise we emitted over the last Next morning a leisurely departure 15 minutes was quite unbefitting a about 9 a.m. with a thaw setting in. supposedly tired mob. However, we Out of the snow on the way down arrived to find them in their pits from Omega and a good running walk cursing at the noisy intrusion. However to Dobson. But alas, all is not well, we did eventually get the brew and hit nobody has seen Spinkie, not since the sack after the usual Cuthbertson/ before Block 16, John, Val and myself Addison/Thompson rubbishing session. are unaware of the big search. So we leave Dobsons and get out about 4.30 We awoke next morning to find a p.m. to see Kevin arrive via the Taulight sprinkling of snow around. Ian herenikau. Lindsay and Arthur have Nielson felt crook, and didn't come looked back as far as Omega. However, any further while the rest of us with it ended happily about Monday lunch- John and Val left about 8 p.m. Up till time when Jon came out down the Vosseler it was cool, but clear and Hutt River. pleasant. Then the crud really came in. While the primus roared and the billy Over all a good trip, and one that bolied, we shivered, so on went long- will go down in memory as a "trip johns, overtrousers, Parkas, Balaclavas, to remember" and thanks to Kevin mittens, the works. After the brew the for leading it, even if we did have call went out "Hector or bust" and bust the odd minor mishaps. it nearly was, but with Lindsay and John out in front to drag us on we DAVE MINARD