A Trio of S.-K.'s

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A trio of S.-K.'s. The first of these, with Laurie Gal- showed interest. The initial thought was lagher, was almost routine. Planned to the Holdsworth route seeing that daya fine degree, even the last minute light hours were shorter, but the cowithdrawal of Dennis and John caused incidence of a full moon rising at 9 us concern. p.m. and setting a 6 a.m. started Barry Confidence was the key-note. Once talking about a straight through S.K on the train at 5.30 p.m. it wasn't leaving Friday night, travel straight a case of 'will we manage it?' but through, arriving hopefully at Kaitoke rather a question of when we'd arrive sometime on Saturday. So plans were at Kaitoke, an unusual feeling for a laid accordingly with witch-doctor Galtrip of this magnitude. lagher furiously chanting spells and per- The climb up to Putara was routine. forming his celebrated rain dance in Saturday morning was overcast with the background. cloud well down onto the tops so we At the Mangatainoka road end. with took the traditional route over Hines cloud way down below the bush and down the spur towards Harris Creek night travel on the tops was obviously edge. and the Mangahao. out. So we decided on the spot to Once this initial navigational error try the river route. After a few false had been rectified the cloud cleared starts we found the beginning of the although the wind remained cool and track and arrived at Roaring Stag with reasonably strong. For the rest of the very little trouble other than ten day we had clear weather-our over- minutes looking from the track where trou came off at Pukematawai which it starts after fording the Mangatainoka was a considerable relief. Lunch in the River. The route down the sun Ruamahanga at Dracophyllum Knob bivvy was River was incident free but Cleft Creek a welcome and lazy interlude. From seemed oddly difficult at night and we Crawford Laurie galloped off ahead and ended up doing a couple of hairy sidles Bill Cronin had a brew of his best on damp, greasy rocks over evil looking coffee waiting for me at Andersons black pools. The track over to Cow when I arrived. Creek gave no. problems and dawn broke The two Bills in residence Cronin while we had breakfast there. In the and Hargreaves even refused to let daylight it becam obvious why Cleft us cook. They had a seemingly unlimited Creek had been so ugly the Wainsupply of steak and onions and tomatoes gawa was up the best part of a foot. which they insisted on sharing. Real This also explained why the Ruamahospitality, and very much appreciated. hanga seemed un-necessarily difficult to Sunday was overcast again cloud cross it wasn't just the dim moonon the tops, anyway. This caused one light and a torch distorting or two things. pauses along the way to check As we travelled down the our route Waingawa in restricted visibility. Mor- in the continuing drizzle and showers ning tea at Maungahuka was cool but the river slowly rose higher so that once over the Peaks the cloud cleared by the time we were about and the long climb up to West peak to Mitre Flats we had to keep half-way to the and Vosseler was a sweltering effort. true right. At Mitre Flats, with the After a reviving lunch at the hut the river up a good two feet, further progress crossing to Alpha in the perfect after- was impossible sO at 9a.m. we called noon was a sheer delight. With time a halt, ate some food, and retired to slipping away we put a bit of spurt our pit. on from Alpha and arrived on the Mar- The rest of the day was spent chant just on dusk. The sunset was eating, and chatting with Ray sleeping, Jefferies magnificent if we'd had cameras and three of his T.T.C. cobbers who we would have both used up all avaii- arrived during the day. That night we able film in hope of an accurate record lured the nocturnal insects onto a of the crimson sky, orange/red mist clean white sheet with an eerie ultradelineating the ridges, and the dark val- violet flourescent tube. This was set leys with rows of street lights forming outside the hut and Barry, who intricate patterns. had been communing with nature while From there on it was torches out batteries were connected, nearly threw and a slowish descent to the shelter a fit-when he came on it hut via Dobsons and the end of a The bugs were attracted unexpectedly. in hordes terrific day. (or squadrons) and we enjoyed and impromptu lepidoptera lesson illustrated Some weeks later the lure of another with live specimens. "S.K" attracted me and Barry Biggs

At 3 a.m.-on Sunday the river was An odd trip-a very odd trip with down and-we were on our way again night and day all mixed up in a jumble with a perfectly clear sky. At the Ati- of spectral impressions-but a mighty whakatu saddle there was a light shower and enjoyable trip. and we put parkas on. As dawn broke we met a large, heavily-built, eight point 'stag just above the Atiwhakatu hut. The third effort involved others. Barry All three of us were startled by this and I used the train and taxi to get meeting and we stood and looked at an early start from Putara. Laurie & each other for quite a while before Ross used the club transport with the the stag was too close for comfort. result that we had brewed and left An indignant sleeper stirred at the the hut before they arrived, however Atiwhakatu Hut as we looked in; two consciences pricked so we went back bods left Mountain House for Holds- to wait for them. Cloud was down worth Lodge minutes after we arrived; a bit and conditions for night travel we met the Tararua trip on its on the tops marginal. When Laurie & out as we travelled down Totara Creck Ross arrived there was some discussion and passed another party going out to on the wisdom of going on at night, Walls Whare on our way down the and Andy and Kevin got involved so Waiohine, as the sun came out. that eventually six of. us went, off into Cone Saddle was its usual self with the night. Ten, minuteslater three turned bastard grass rampant. At Cone saddle back and two hours laterthe remaining flat we decided to carry straight on three got back to the hut 'after a frustratin the hope of bludging on the club ing time on Hines in the cloud and bushcraft transport from Kaitoke. How- not quite enough. moonlight to pick out ever when we arrived at Smiths Creek ridges. A messy business and those who the place was deserted so we decided want to can now say we piked! Still, to brew and amble out at a rather the club trip was exceptionally worthleisurely pace. This made the final leg while and as Barry said as we drove of the trip very pleasant in the late in the bus oyer the Pakuratahi bridge, afternoon and we arrived at the shelter we completed the S.K. even if it was hut just on 6 p.m., in time to jump by bus! on board a Trekka which delivered us Anyone interested in an S-K? to Epuni station. Nick Jennings Mount Robert 1971 After an approach from our com- of the day; then a quick trip down mittee, the Nelson Ski Club has agreed the track to the carpark and back to to a continuation of the arrangement Picton to catch the 6pm. ferry. which enables us to run economical The cost? This seasons trips will be trips to the Mount Robert skifields for $10.40 which covers all transport and a third season. accommodation. You provide your own The weekend trips leave Wellington food, and tow fees are $1 day, pn the 6.40pm. ferry to Picton, and so the cost compares with a rental van and trailer Tavourabiy provide transport Ruapehu. to St. Arnaud, where the trip beds A system of preferential bookings down in a well equipped house. A fifteen operates on Mount Robert trips, as for minute drive after breakfast brings you Ruapehu, so if you cannot get to Club to the start of the track to the skifield. write to the Assistant Chief Guide five One and a half hours later (depending weeks before a trip runs and ask that on fitness!) you are ready to commence your name be placed on the trip list skiing for the day. before it goes on the board. Trip lists Lack of tow queues soon makes one close three Thursdays before a trip runs, realise how unfit for continuous skiing not two as with other trips. many Ruapehu skiers are, and most Interested? Then why not join us are happy to call it a day about four for a ski-weekend with' a differenceo'clock. You then head back to Bushline first trip June 25-27, snow permitting. hut, 2000' above Lake Rotoiti. If you have any queries contact Brian Another early start and skiing until Hunt. 2pm. on Sunday is the normal order