Holdsworth – Baldy (March 4-6) – Fit Trip

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CV3. Greg Ord I inets

or Arriving in a bus, at Holdsworth: çar park by 9pm meant a good start for the trip. Some of, the more eager members of ther trip raced up to Powell' while the rest just strolled up the hiil except for 'Mat' who tried to make it to Totara Flats. The night was fine and cool and Pig Flat was made easier by the newly installed walk that now crosses it. Waking up early we were greeted with thick mist surrounding" the hut and after the usual clambering around and breakfast wé were on our" way by 8.30am. Through the mist, up Holdsworth and along to Jumbo, where Meg's dreams of piking at the hut were: shattered when she found out that the new hut was, not actually "on" Jumbo. A rest was taken by the tarn where a glimpse of South King (the destination)was seen through the now rapidly clearing cloud. "IH: 2S i 31 por prid : C hir f Diar Along the tops and-on to Angle Knob where we were greeted by. a: magnificent view of the, whole of the: northern Tararuas. Lunch was taken on the other side of McGregor by:a small tarn. L Làzing in the sun packs were finally donned as we. preceeded, towards the Broken Axe Pinnacles. Then we were there, at. the base of South: King, finished.for the day at 2 o'clock in the afternoon. oD - Soon the tents: were: pitched but no one., seemed interested when the trip leader suggested that we go for a wander across the "Three Kings! and back. The afternoon was: : spent. sitting in the sun watching a helicopter flying around: below us. : : : se After dinner the wind camé up and we werevin the pit early watching the sun set. Tent flapping like mad wè got: some' sleep until in the middle of 4OY JT ivir E i >or

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the night we decided the wind was just too strong. So down came the tent and we spent the rest of the night amongst the tussock on the sheltered side of the ridge. Morning dawned misty and wet with a gale blowing so breakfast was postponed and we rushed down on to Baldy buffeted by the wind. Scrambling along we made it to the bushline and stopped for a bite to eat and a change to get rid of the storm gear. Down to the Atiwhakatu via Pinnacle Saddle for some late breakfast and a much welcomed brew. The trip then split up with all but two "grizzling females" climbing back up on to Pinnacle Ridge (they went down the sidle track). A short. navigation exercise on the ridge was successful and we arrived at Donnelly's Flat (finding its two lost sheep) in time for lunch. The trip was then insulted by one of its piking members who was immediately thrown into the river. Lunch was taken beside the river in plenty of time and we strolled out early for the bus. On the trip weres Gregory Ord, Graeme Hawthorne, Mat Comeskey, Peter Hodge, Kevin Thompson, Janine Tooley, Paul Bolger, Sue ? Peter Brocklehurst and the involuntary swimmer: Megan Rodden.