Totara Flats Trip 12-14th May

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TOTARA FLATS TRIP 12-14th MAY There were about sixty people alto- It rained on Friday night and most gether on the three trips which started ofthe parties started off between 8 and from Walls Whare on the weekend of 9.30 on Saturday morning. There was a the 12th-14th of May. We nearly got a fit trip going over Mt Waiohine, and lost before we started, when the buses F.E. trip going to Neill Forks and a took the wrong road going into the hills. large medium party going to Totara flats. It rained most of Saturday (wind, contained little more than common or hail, sleet, typhoons, cyclones and snow garden dried grass, but we initiated were also experienced). spirits were above such equivocations. Most people spent the afternoon Brian, who I fear is growing a little crowded in the hut before a roaring soft, spent the night in the hut ("to "Hunt" fire which grew increasingly hot. catch some rats," 3 or so he told us) while By dinnertime everybody had arrived many others slept out. Perhaps Brian except Lindsay Cuthbertson, whose long was right. Rumour has it that some unabsence was beginning to give cause for fortunates in club tents were exceedingly alarm since he had promised us all a damp by morning. midnight treat. Having calculated on Saturday that In spite of the fact that Brian had it would take about two hours to get denied that his trip was not special in everybody across the flooded river in the any way, there were various pleasant an early start was made on Sunlittle cordon bleu surprises, including a cese. Actually due to a certain technical curried rice and pineapple entree, and efficiency in the use of the said instrufresh cream, chopped nuts and chocolate ment, the whole operation was over in with the fruit salad. After dinner Garth, much less time. who had injured his knee in a gallant Most of the group went to Mountain attempt to save his fair damsel from House for lunch drawn by reports of certain death at Walls Whare, began to the red hot stove which warmed the rue the effects of that noble action. His hut in minutes. In truth it was quite imknee became very painful and had to be pressive. Twenty-six members of the bandanged. After which Garth retired Hutt Valley Club were also lunching for the night. there. They showed us their empty wine The orchestra (in which one mouth bottles to prove their stories of orgies organ and two guitars were operative) amidst wine and cheese-in full evening took about half an hour to warm and dress-at five thousand feet in a howling synchronise. With such a large Aupmsnd blizzard. We humoured them and in reof people it was difficult to organise turn for their confidences, showed them co-ordinated singing, and throughout the ourt empty cream bottles, to prove how evening rival groups in different parts of temperate we are. the hut were heard raising their little A very mass of made voices in doubtful harmony. Lindsay Holdsworth large humanity warm without showed up. to our relief and soon the need for Lodge a fire. It quite was rumoured that pared an incredibly delectable Toreen one character was seen concoction which some sceptics swore dress suit and bow tie, and sporting fiddling with full PHOTO: L. GALLAGHER a primus. A likely story.