Easter Bunnies in the Kaimanawas

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Easter Bunnies in the Kaimanawas Jamie Clelland This weather would make you want to problem was that 100,000 of 'em spit, was the feeling as the van decided to creep past at once. The pulled into a very dark and wet result being one dandy of a gale. Waicurn late on a Thursday evening and still with a least two hours Oamaru Flats were still too crowded travel ahead of us. It didn't look on Saturday morning so the 'F' group good for a fine spell of weather in raced off up valley to Waitewhero the Kaimanawas. My group being the saddle. The weather still pretty 'fitness' group of eleven bods were useless. The three hour walk went to enter the bush at the Te Iringa fairly quickly during which time Hut track. plenty of good camp sites were passed. The approach to the saddle is The arrival that Thursday night at particularly picturesque. But thoughts the bottom of this track ended with soon turned to making one self warm a crash, straight into our pits. and protected against the cold Consciousness was regained around southerly about to be confronted, for 7.00a.m. on Friday morning to a dull the crossing of the Ngaruroro River overcast day with only the occassional valley and short sidle walk around patch of blue sky skudding past. to Boyd Lodge. Boyd's Rocks, above Ominous signs for later. the Lodge, had a topping of snow. Anyhow the team were kicked in the Who should be at the hut on our guts, and out of the Avis van!, and arrival but the FE's with fishermens given the only option of getting up type tales of their night at Tussock the track to Te Iringa Hut for a hot Hut and how the wind blew, the bog brew. This brew was had and so all served its last bog, the hut took up then headed off into the cool and disco dancing, acres of trees uprooting strengthening wind for lunch at the themselves, etc. I had to agree with Kaipo river swing bridge. them considering our relatively minor experiences in relation at Oamaru Hut. Every man and his dog must have intended entering the Kaimanawas via Te Robbery is a crime, but when alcohol Iringa this weekend. Three WT&MC groups is the item at hand then death to the one Parawai group, two large Auckland culprit seems like fair justice. It groups and several other private or seemed odd how the Forest Service club groups to name a few. Lunch was boys at Boyd Lodge had problems findhad followed by learning to throw a ing their beer cans that evening. frisbee through beech trees. Not easy Howard Biggs, I reckon, is lucky he so around beech trees was attempted is still alive. I didn't know he with even crappier results. The afterdrank anyway. noons entertainment was the final stroll to Oamaru Hut, a further 1% hours away. Things were starting to follow a At least the track was possible to routine on this trip by now. Firstly follow. The weather had really poxed the 'F' group would be away. Secondly in by the time we arrived at the hut. they would arrive early at their destination and Thirdly, find that Since the hut was empty bunks were they had been followed at a slower also occupied and then the people, or pace by at least forty other people. should I say the populace started to We all wished that they would 'go away'. arrive. By now which was early even- Our groups style was being cramped ing, the wind was blowing a 100 literally. The superior members of bastards and some very unprepared the group slept out under flys that people having arrived, were hanging night. Bloody cold it was too! To around inside the hut, including one kill time topical discussion was had, or two exposure cases. Watching many including Monty Python thanks to tents and flys being erected on the Brian, smut thanks to myself and grassy flats below the hut it was sex education thanks to Dale. Which hard not to leap out of warm pits, don reminds me of a joke which was told. storm gear and rush out into the It goes: tempest to offer one's assistance. What do big ships and In fact it was so hard that every- Sheilas have in common? one stayed put and scoffed some great Ask Dale for the answer. scones. Thanks to resident chefs, Bruce and Shaun. They were further More easter eggs were gobbled up complemented on their stew which before the lights were turned off I'm sure was the best that everyone for the night. present has had in the hills. During the night a few zephyrs were Saturday dawned. still cold but clearfelt creeping around the hut. The ing slowly. The trip route was to go over Mt. Dowden, but lots of snow and windfall. This 'F' group soon cloud around the tops called for a proved their capabilities, being slight change of plans at the North the first ones out to Hinemaia road Arm branch of the Ngaruroro river. end by a country mile. But also As it was we blatantly piked. We doing it with style and brilliant went up to McNutts hut and the saddle timing. The access road had been a further 20 minutes on instead to blocked with windfall since Friday have lunch. What a great area for but within half an hour of our sitting in the sun having lunch and arrival out the Forest Service for camping. Also for consuming more bulldozer appeared, having just alcohol; I hear Dave. completed very extensive clearing operations. The Ngaruroro valley around Boyd Lodge and McNutts Hut is wierd.There is Still, for a bunch of pikers, we tussock in the valley floor but had a great time, many laughs, new abundant beech forest on most hill experiences and gallantly led the sides and tops. Apparently a result other WT & MC groups through the of past volcanic ash fallouts Kaimanawas. associated with the impending water erosion actions which followed. The final leg of the trip was the Avis van ride home. Dave, always That afternoon consisted of a one to encourage entertainment had substantial climb for once (all of a his music tapes, so Led Zeppellin, 150 m) over the saddle and down Dire Straits, Deep Purple, Fleetwood through bush to Cascade Hut. We, Mack, etc, was listened to (or being the first arrivals again. The should I say felt) all the way home. first signs of an extraordinarily A cool way to end a mighty trip with strong storm, started to appear. Trees a keen bunch of pikers. many at a time, were all across the track making travel very awkward. The general good guys incorporated were: Camp was set up under trees near the Jamie Clelland (Chief Piker) hut and before long the other groups Mike Hollis (Sleep Walker) started to appear. Again we were Dennis Constantine (old buggar) wishing they would 'go away!'. Bruce Murdoch (greasy meat) Dinner was prepared for all by our Brian Rowe (Monty) trusty club President, (soon to be Howard Biggs (latent) dethroned), then the lights went out. Peter Jackson (Mr Kodak) Dave Gilroy (Kilroy) The weather on Monday was ace, Evan Cunliffe (cigarette butt) but the track turned out to be a Dale Parsons (Superior Being) right b.. What should have Malcolm Thomas (friend to the been a good three hour stroll carried Superior Being) on to become a five hour grovel and Sean Wakely (T.0.) (Chief Cook and endless windfalls were traversed Bush Creeper) only to be confronted by even more Another look at Part 49 in a series: "New Zealanders Great & Small"