Makaretu-Oriwa-Waitewaewae

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MAKARETU-ORIWA-WAITEWAEWAE A still cloudless night in November obstacles. When we weren't doing this, saw 11 T & Ms, many in the hills for we were climbing the trees, with every the first time for 6 months or more, now and then another patch of elephant heading up to Makaretu for the Goat grass for a change. Luckily there wasn't Canyon Flats. Under the honourable much lawyer. leadership of Garth Mumme were Pete Goodwin, Kev Moynihan, Lyle Mason, There wasn't much water either, un- Tony Smith, Barry Biggs, Laurie Gallag- fortunately, so we had to settle for a her, Jill Taylor, Tim Stern, Grant dry lunch. (Actually, some people had Richards, and Alan Reid. brought water bottles with them, which were much appreciated). As the after- Next morning, with creaking joints noon dragged on, legs and arms became and twinging of out-of-practice muscles, more and more frayed, and so did our we staggered up a spur from the head patience. There was talk of dropping of the river to Oriwa Lake Hollow. into the Panatewaewae, or even the The higher we climbed, the louder were East Waitewaewae, but a democratic the mumblings from the back on the line vote narrowly decided we press on the about a good quick route to Mid Otaki way we were going. At last unbelievrather than a long scunge on Oriwa ably, we came to the iron peg that Ridge. marked the Mount Waitewaewae trig. On Oriwa, we stopped while Garth A short way down a spur, then we inspected his disintegrating boots, and dropped off into the West Waitewaewae, he had to bribe and threaten some but instead of lots of campsites as we members before they would follow him had been promised, we found a narrow from here on. Grant who had been here little stream with every now and then before (so knew the way) said turn a log jam and a waterfall. Eventually right, so without checking the compass, after a couple more hours, we came we did turn right. Soon a deep saddle, to a tiny flat at the confluence of what vaguely familiar with its long grass we thought was Mick Stream where and fallen trees, appeared ahead. But there was just enough room for two it was not till wa had struggled and flies and fireplace. A quick tea, then forced our way through the 10 foot we collapsed into the pit, and couldn't grass, hidden logs, and deep holes to even stay awake long enough to hear the slightly easier going (5 foot high the end of the Election results. grass and thick scrubby bush) on the other side that we realised where we Next day we split up; with some had been led. The saddle was the one people down the river and out between the Makaretu and the East to the forADE and the rest of us going Waitewaewae, and we were now head- up the stream we were camped by (we ing for Mt. Waitewaewae, ninety de- found it was actually the next stream grees to the right of where we should up from Mick Stream, but anyway, have been. it was good travel). When we got on. to the ridge, we headed north for a while, Too bad, we could carry on in this then dropped down a steep little side direction and drop into the West Waite- creek and into the Waitohu. A short waewae River, we thought not knowing road-walk was followed by a couple of what it would be like. Already suffer- hours sunbathing while we waited for ing from innumerable cuts, scratches, the bus. So ended a really memorable bruises and other minor hacks we trip (some people still have the scars) crashed on. At times we could even when we spent a whole weekend in the stand upright, but most of the time Tararuas and never saw a hut or a we were in a semi-crouch position dodg- track. Thanks to Garth for leading it and ing low branches springing back on to Grant for steering us away from us, and crawling under logs and other Oriwa Ridge.