Minchin Pass in Summer

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MINCHIN PASS IN SUMMER Minchin Pass is in Arthur's Pass National Park; it takes you over the main divide. Although long it is a good weekend trip, especially in summer. Transport for the trip, consisting of two people, was easy to arrange. Anne came from Greymouth in one railcar and I came from Christchurch in another. We met at Mt. White Bridge, a place where the railcars stop to let down trampers or pick them up. This was my first weekend trip from Christchurch SO the railcar journey was a real novelty. It takes three hours to Arthur's Pass. Half of this time is spent racing (hopefully) across the Canterbury Plains, a quick refreshment stop at Springfield and then the climb to the Pass. I along with several other trampers, piled off at Mt. White Bridge. Anne was waiting and it was not long before we were away down the road. The sky was clear and a full moon rose over the mountains as we walked along - no need for torches. It took us about an hour to Andrews Stream where we spent the night. No need for a tent and we soon had our pits rolled out and were fast asleep. Sleeping was not allowed according to the sandflies and were were away by 8.00 a.m. The first part of the journey takes you through black beech. The track is easy and within 3 hours you have reached Hallelujah Flats. At the end of the flats is Casey Saddle which takes you out of Andrews Stream and into Casey Stream. We followed the track although Anne had been down the stream and wondered why we had to climb SO high. We had lunch at the bottom of Casey Stream. It was very hot and we longed for a Tararua pool to cool ourselves down in, as we plodded over miles of boulders to Mid-Poulter Hut. It was here that we read of the trials people had experienced while crossing Minchin Pass SO we left quickly and lost the track in the first five minutes. We found it, had a quick swim in Minchin Stream and began the climb to Lake.Minchin. Lake Minchin.is.one. of'the prettiern places in.Arthur's Pass. We wandered around it with a camera stop and then on up the Minchin. We sidled around the gorge and could then seé the Pass and the bivvy. The bivvy looked small and uninviting SO we camped. A quick stew and then we crawled into a 3259 nironiit our pits. ar nien sy S - Sunday dawned fine and we were away by 7.30 a.m. Keeping to the stream bed until the bivvy where we climbed out and worked our way across the * tussock slopes to the Pass. The scrub' on the north and south side of the Taramakau is horrific So it was with relief that we were able to drop into Townsend Creek where the travel was good. We were able to keep to the creek most of the way although had to sidle through thick West Coast bush to avoid two waterfalls. By 12.00 p.m. we were hungry and stopped on a shingle bank for lunch. The rata was still in flower and added a touch of colour to the bush. We were unsure of how much further it was to the Taramakau So did not linger long over lunch. Around the corner from our lunch spot the creek opened out and flowed into the Taramakau. The trip was all but over as once again we were on a track and it was an easy four hours to the road. We called at some friends of Anne's who farm the land around Aickens and up to the head of the Otira. We were given a two course meal (ice cream and fresh cow's cream for pudding) which was really appreciated. We stopped the railcar by shining our torches and then it was away back to Christchurch. JUDY COX