A Cracker Day

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A CRACKER DAY * - The track above Dawsons Falls is always fascinating, I think. Gnarled and moss covered trees, scrub, snowgrass and then scree and snow all in a short climb above the road. But also this time the weather was brilliant and there was no hurry. A heavy late spring fall of snow lay well down in the tussock giving a mid-winter appearance to the mountain though it was really almost Christmas. Plugging steps up Fanthoms Peak was quite enjoyable, the dazzling view more than compensation for the effort involved. Ruapehu stood to the east, to the north and south the coastline curved and dissolved in the morning haze, in between lay the checker-board pattern of farmland. Syme Hut was buried to the eaves, the warm tin roof making an ideal picnic table for lunch. Just across Rangitoto Flat the main snow slopes rose at an alarming angle, disappeared into a band of cloud, and reappeared at the summit at an impossible height. Alnost suddently the whole thing didn't seem such a good idea, everything was much steeper and higher than I had remembered. Still, nobody else had turned up yet - maybe they had changed their minds and I could sit in the sun for a while and then walk quietly down again. But somehow annoyingly, the next time I looked a dozen figures had appeared on the, eastern slopes climbing steadily. A quick change of boots, dumo unneeded gear and over to start the long plod up to meet their tracks. At the crater rim I had a last look down and couldn't help tracing.a few: imaginary slides and where they ended up. None were very inviting. What was the record down? 90 seconds. Hell he must have been moving.

The others were basking in the sun in the crater munching a late lunch. All new faces to me. Name brands on all the gear too, but a friendly bunch. "Just thinking that since its such a nice day and the lads are a bit knackered from the climb we might just take it easy on the way down instead of racing". I could only agree that would be a good idea. It did seem to be a waste of two hours climbing to be down again in less than two minutes. We stood about on the top for quite a while, photographing or just admiring the view. A rare day for Egmont, almost too good to go down but soon the snow would start to re-freeze. Anyway at last I could make use of the cumbersome load that had been carried up. So on the highest mound of snow we could find we put on our skis, and with excited yells started down. A few easy but steep turns, then across the crater floor. Flashing over the rim trying to keep up with the others and suddenly the whole world had dropped away. Hell! Almost a free fall. A moment of doubt before the first tur. But it worked, and the next, then it was easy. The slope is less fearsome as it widens out - and perfect granular spring snow all the way. The others are well ahead skiing fast in the ideal conditions. The rest of the run down was not difficult but still exciting. Fast turns down the slope that seemed to go on and on. A traverse round Fanthoms Peak and then down out of the sun into the clouds and mist. Finally even the lowest fingers of snow gave out and it was all over. But what an exhilarating run. The rain started as we walked down the track but it didn't matter. It had been a glorious day and something I had wanted to do for a long time. And even in the rain there is something enchanting about the place. TONY GAZLEY