A Middle Crossing, 19-20 September 1970

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A Middle Crossing 19-20 September, 1970 At the end of August it was suggested more sheltered so we pressed on to that after a week's tramping in the South Isabelle and then down to the Mid- Island some of us, poms in particular, Waiohine hut for lunch. This is where would be fit encugh to do an F.E. The our slight deviation from the intended first F.E. after our return from the non- route occurred. To ford the Waiohine ascent of the Waiau Pass [see the was out of the question so we wandered Editor] was a Middle Crossing-Mid- down to the forestry bridge, crossed Waiohine-Kahiwiroa, so the notice read. there, and shot up the ridge onto Aoka- For reasons I am not entirely satisfied parangi-- partly, I think, so that two with I ended up being the only member of our number could inspect the bivouac of the South Island party to undertake hut. Alas, they were disappointed. this further madness. Once on Aokaparangi we met the full Besides myself there were four guns force of the wind. We weer now comand one young lady. Departure from the mitted to a couple of hours of exposed railway station was punctual in spite ridge. We ploughed on doggedly. The of the latter. wind battered us remorsely. I started to A few words with the caretaker at feel my previous weeks' exertions in the Holdsworth Lodge and we were on our South Island. At the top of Kahiwiroa way to Powell. An hour and a half Ifound a sheltered and exceedingly combrought us to Mountain House where fortable clump of tussock and much to lemon drinks flowed freely. After initial the consternation of the others I dozed hesitation about the route to Powell we off. Fortunately for me they decided not were soon under way. The slight delay to let sleeping dogs lie. was caused by the pom who expected After three bowls of stew which I to find a signpost to Powell. Well, he realise deprived Paul's dog of some titargued, everything else was signposted. bits I felt much better. With a certain As the bush became less dense we amount of double bunking we all fitted could see the lights of Masterton, etc., into the hut. Everyone seemed to sleep and although there was a little wispy like logs and as usual I was first up, cloud about the peaks the weather cleaning billies, filling primi and getting looked as though it might be settled for the brew started. the weekend. Fooled! Two hours later everyone reached that By the time the rest of us reached terrible transition stage of getting out Powell, about 12.30 a.m., my torch was of their warm pits and into cold wet like its owner - -half dead, and the lead- clothes. How I loath that feeling of ing guns had a brew on. Everyone slept rising damp. Now I know what the well in spite of tales about Cedric. Canadian in London meant when he Being the "oldy" in the party and said that a friend of his had gone to being the only one whose sleepingbag New Zealand and having returned to lets the cold in at about dawn. I was up Canada was still trying to get all the first to put the brew on. Outside every- mist out of his bones. thing was cold, quiet and misty. The hut was given a good clean-nut The first rays of sunlight were redden- and we set off on cur final stage. The ing the mist "red sky at night, shep- wind had slackened and the rain that herd's delight; red sky in the morning had stung so the previous day had sailors' warning". ceased. Over Junction Knob and onto During breakfast the weather deter- Shoulder Knob. Every, now and then iorated to such an extent that the trip the clouds parted to give us a view. I leader decided to delay our start. We must repeat this trip in fine weather. On eventually set off clad in overtrousers the tops evaporation crystals of ice and waterproofs. The wind had risen coated the outer leaves of the tussock with the passing of dawn and once above grass and bore witness to the extreme the bushline we felt its full force. A halt: conditions that had prevailed during the should we go, on, especially when the night. The drop off Shoulder Knob rest of the Club was having a piking seemed endless. We were amazed on weekend. The temptation was great. reaching the Otaki to find how low it However, the concensus of opinion was was compared with the Waiohine. An that we might as well do something easy crossing was made, the water rising even if it was only the ascent of Holds- just high enough to cause us to get worth. Once over Holdsworth it was nappy rash. Lunch at Waitewaewae was followed by a very pleasant walk out to most peculiar tales from a party return- Otaki forks for all but the trip leader ing from Fields. Apparently they had who was having blister trouble and had seen what they thcught were crossexchanged his boots for sand shoes at country runners on the Southern Crosslunchtime. How he kept his feet out of ing. But when they found that we had all that mud was remarkable. But then come from Holdsworth they said: so were some of his acrobatics the "How long has that taken - - a week!" most spectacular being when he fell over a loz and got into a somersault he Thanks to Paul for leading the trip; could not complete. Now he knows what I realise that he is not on good terms it feels like to be a beetle on its back. with the weather gods. Thanks also to Arrival at Otaki forks heralded two the stubborn pig-headed members who more river crossings as we could not be insisted on continuing up Holdsworth. bothered walking to the bridge. The Party members: Paul Milson, Dave Otaki was crossed with all six members Munro, Dave Forbes, Lynette Sellars, linked by their rucksack straps. At times Owen Cox and Richard Ibbitt. the shorter members' feet left the hottom. Then across the Waiotauru and up P.S. For the benefit of New Zealand to the road. We reached our transport readers: rucksack = pack. with seconds to spare after hearing some RICHARD P. IBBITT.