A Couple of Day Trips

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A COUPLE OF DAY TRIPS 9.00 p.m., Saturday, 18th March, found and after a chat we made our way to me in my pit on top of Hector with only Mountain House where Paul did some the stars above my head. How did it all measuring for a working party. After a start? About three o'clock on Saturday "fry up" we all got breakfasts ready, and afternoon we left Wellington for the Jon made a brew in Lindsay's billy after Forks. Then we slogged on up the Fields throwing out Lindsay's breakfast, which Track in blazing sunlight. After a bis- prompted the longest string of curses cuit stop it was on to Vosseler, with the I've ever heard! sun setting, as we climbed over Dennan. A 7 o'clock start, and we plodded to Torches out at Vosseler for the Jast step Powell, then the Trig and Isabelle. From to the top where we had a "fry up". there we took the left-hand spur which What a beautiful night! The lights of hopefully led us to the Waioliine at Wellington, the Wairarapa and even Isabelle Creek. After some scrambling Wanganui sparkling all around us. around and route checking we reached During the night a cool breeze got up, the last 200 feet, which took the form of so it was a delayed and cold start. But a near vertical slope. Eventually we before long we were on Winchcombe reached the bottom, and then out comes and I dropped down to the bivvy to leave Lindsay in a rage, because Jon had my scrawl, while the others continued. knocked a boulder on to him (you After a leatherwood scramble I caught should have heard the curses, which are the others, and it was up on to Neill and sending Jon overseas for a year). We hit into the saddle. From here we turned the river too far up; so it was a couple south and dropped into the stream, of cold crossings and then lunch. whose virgin bush provided good travel From there we took the spur on the to the Upper Tauherenikau, where we south side of Isabelle Creek and ended had a short food stop. Then it was Cone on' High Ridge about three-quarters Flats for lunch, followed by the new hut oP an hour from the bush edge. Then it where we had a "nosey". Finally, a was up to the Signpost and down to pleasant stroll down the river and over Powell and Mountain House. After a the "Puffer" had us in Lynn's hands short stop we headed to the Lodge where heading homeward. Also on trip: Brian we had a most enjoyable afternoon tea, Hunt and Noel Thomas. thanks to Paddy. * Those on the trip were: Paul Green, April 15th and another "Hunty" day Brian Hunt, Lindsay Cuthbertson, Denis trip. Leaving Wellington about 4 p.m. Gazley, Chris Kinzett, Jon Spink and we arrived at Paddy's soon after dark, Neill Woodrow (author). EASTER 72' Richmond Range Came Thursday, and it was across the A leisurely lunch was enjoyed over- Straits and off up the North Branch road looking beautiful Lake Chalice, and a of the Wairau Valley for the club's third panorama of our route for the next three assault of the Richmond Range. days was offered to us. Continuing along After a night under the stars on the the open slatey tops, we soon reached roadside, and a hearty feed of muesli the bush where progress was slowed (urp! excuse me), we were off the dramatically by the thick, traceless bush. hill on what initially looked like a By the time point 4993' was reached track. (allocated many descriptive names), we realised that our proposed destination "Brian, I've poked a hole in my leg!" for the night was still many hours hence. yells Murray from head-high scrub. Un- Camp was made on a dry bush ridge on daunated, the team ploughed on until the saddle leading to "Old Man" Peak, Murray, bleeding profusely, caught up but Andy, Chris and Owen did a tremenand received attention. The minor wound dous job in all the turned out to be fairly major. Neverthe- water from bringing a creek the saddle. necessary A less, we below pushed on through bush and compulsory climb of a tree that to scrub until we finally encountered the observe the moonlight on the cloud-filled night, desired track from Dismal Creek and the valleys, was well worth the effort. Enchanted Hut. From here on tremen- With a cool breeze blowing through dous progress was made and the open the flies, a reluctant start was made on tops near point Z were soon attained. Saturday. "Old Man" was soon ascended C 6 and a brief pause was taken to view the across the Wairoa River. Somewhat like Kaikouras, Nelson Lakes and the head a miniature Dart River with its pleasant of the Pelorus River. Under ideal grassy flats, the Goulter was followed up weather conditions, cool and breezy, we to the Chalice Creek with its unusual, continued on to Mt. Rintoul after Brian very flat creek bed. At the bottom of deposited a log book in the hut, somc the land-slumped wall holding back Lake 500 feet bclow the ridge. A deep saddle Chalice, water pours from iissures beand narrow rocky ridge made the ap- tween the rocks, and no actual outflowing proach to Mt. Rintoul interesting, though creek from the, lake itself was found. still a "grunter". A pleasant hour or so Climbing the 500-ft dam wall, three of us was spent in the sun at Rintoul Hut on received painful wasp stings: one of the the western slopes of the mountain while few unattractive features of the Richwe ate and waited for Murray, who mond Range. found an interesting route through the A beautiful campsite was found at the blufis on the peak. Then we sped on over western end of the lake on a small "Purple Top" and sidled around Bishops grassed clearing, and chicken was Cup" to the ridge running on to "Bushy enjoyed beside an enormous "Hunt" curry fire. Top". The climax to a long but very enjoyable Tarn Hut is located by a tiny but dis- day was the moon rising over the ridge tractingly enchanting lake a few minutes and illuminating the whole lake. off the ridge. That night the full moon Monday saw a leisurely start after a was perfectly mirrored in the tranquil dip in the lake, with good travel around waters of the lake, and the bush echoed the shore to the hut at its head. From thet hoots of the morepork and snufllings there we returned to Point Two via a of the wekas. We sat on the tiny beach steeply inclined track through bush and and soaked up the serene atmosphere of scrub. After a quick lunch in brilliant the lake hollow. sunshine it was off back down to the As Sunday dawned we rose to a fan- Wairau Valley and the road. Thanks, tastic chorus of bellbirds, tuis and robins, Brian, for a "fancredible" trip. and the very tame wekas picked amongst Those on the trip were: Brian Hunt, our gear as we packed. Then off over Lyndsay Cuthbertson, Pete Williams, Bushy Top and through the moss-car- Grant Richards, Murray Brown, Chris peted bcech forest to the beautiful Kinzett, Tony Gazley. Andy Haines, Goulter River. En route we enjoyed ex- Owen Cox and Quill Twiddler Paul cellent views of the Red Hill country Milsom.