Ruahines Rage

This text was read by OCR from a scanned newsletter and has not been proofread yet, so expect odd characters and mistakes.

Ruahines Rage 29-31 August Proloque 6:00pm: A mass of cold, bedraggled, human beings is clustered in small groups at Wellington Railway Station, trying desparately to muster some enthusiasm for the ordeal ahead. Does this remind you of anyone? Yes, you're right, those beings were another Tongue 'n' Meats squad, ready for a weekend trip into the Southern Ruahines. After a somewhat uneventful bus journey and a torty minute stroll along the dirt 1oad, the squad set up camp for the night. Morning saw Jack hrnd off on a solo trip up Rosvall's track, just as the Medium and the Fit trips were waking up. The Medium party (under the leadership of Murray Worsop) set off about 9:00 a.m. into the bright morning sunshine ready to conquer the world (or hopefully the Rosvall's track anyway)!! After a short walk up the Tukituki river, theyfound the desired track - leading up a spur into the bush. The initial grind was well worthwhile, as the Mediums found themselvés cravelling through some interesting bush, and obtaining scenic views across to Black Ridge along the way. However, all this time, unbeknown to the intrepid Mediums, one of their number had managed to.. .GET HIS SOCKS WRT!! Immediately, it was red alert a major catastrophe, and all activity ground to a halt while the offending socks were thoroughly wrung out and replaced with dry ones. (The sock--man has asked for his name to be withheld until the full case has been heard.) Around midday (perhaps slightly after who knows?) the brave and courageous Mediums reached the 1285m point they had been slogging for all morning, ànd with it some mysterious tracks in the snow. that seemed to indicate an encounter between Jack McConchie and a rabbit. Unfortunately, that was all the Mediums could deduce from the available informaticn, so they sat down on packs and PVC's to devour some food, while predictably it began to rain.

?a Packing up hastily, and stumbling onto the open Black Ridge, the sensible Mediuns made an instant decision not to try for Tarn Bivvy further up the ridge. Instead they headed downhill to Daphne Hut, where a journey down the river the next morning would bring them safely back to Base camp. This decision was followed by a quiet three hours of dedicated tramping, accompanied by silent contemplation of the surrounding bush (and the cccasional nosedive into the snow). Meanwhile, the sockman appeared to be. coping admirably; with his new predacament(or, so they thought). The last 400m of the descent was accomplished using the Gluteus Maximus, and with limbs splayed in various directions. 2; : . L JC Fibrepile Fibrepile Polypropylene PULLOVERS JACKETS THERMALWEAR $39.95 $59.95 $19.50 Lightweight, vAnterwelgbt and. Expedilionweight. (WINTER CLOTHING CATALOGUE NOW AVAILABLE). Ps. Polypro gloves * 950 125 Lambton Quay Telephone 720-673 There was an entertaining gymnastic display By Kate, who executed a perfect triple diveroll somersault v: landing feet first in an unsuspecting bush. i : Other notables were a small patch of mud which claimed three victins in succession, and a huge boulder dislodged by Steve which crashed noisily down the slope towards the unfortunate Kate, who in another amazing gymnastic manoevre, managed to avoid it 'by inches. The hut was reached by mid-afternoon, a welcome. surprise, as it was clean and newly-built, to all appearances rat-free, and had a huge bin full of Forest. Service food 1 unlocked. But the Mediuns, being the conscientious and çonsiderate trampers that they were, turned a :blind eye to the temptations of Wattie's creaned corn and sliced beetroot, and instead, spent the afternoon constructively, preparing the vegetarian masterpiece they had all been waiting for(according to Anne and Kate's originalfrecipe). That night, while the rest of the Mediums looked on in horior, the delightful newly-weds were back in true form! Meanwhile, in another corner of the hut, a : gripping philosophical discussion was taking place, exploring such meaningful topics as subjective reality, the existence of God, and the movies "First Blood"and "Top Gun"

The excitement died down around 10:00 p.ma, and the wise and wonderful Mediums séttled down to a good night's snoring. : with thedawn', cane the'fragrant aroma of frying wool, as the sockman pu in a last bid for dry footwear. Hei claimed tobe carryang 13 socks.in all'- six pairs, and the unlucky thirteenth one which was causing all his problems. Soon, Jack turned up, having spent most of the previous day and night at Tarn Bivvy, sleeping, ànd ( drinking copious amounts oF tea. LIVING SIMPLY All the gedr yit 1 mead fromt the mountains to the sea Phoenix Centre, : Cabie Car Lane, Lambton Cuay . The miraculous Mediuins 'set off down the Tukituki river at around 9:30 am. scaling bluffs and boulders bravelyy taie end up on the Larmiand where they'd begun. The woridwide acclaimed a American lightweight selt-inflating foam sleeping pads AVAILABLEDIRECT TE ROM ASSOLENEW ZEALANDAGENT, : JANBAINEAGENCIES 4PARK BGAC, HELMONT.LOWERHUTT. PIIONE (04)3651-918 REOT CHEQUES OR GIVE FULL CREDIT CARD DETAILS INCLEDING FULI, NUMBER AND EXPIRY DATE WITEN ORDERING TOPO. BOX: 31028 LOWER HUTT. Fuily illastrated ant lescriptive leafet seailable un request. PAR YPE LENGTUE WEIGHT FREIGIT PRICE PAID STANDARD Long 1.8201 (6) 1020g ( 2116) $119.00 i E.19m (4) 595g Hih) S 89.00 ULTRALITE Long 1.82m (6) 794g 1jib) $129.00 #. 1.19m T4) 482g (17alb) 3 94.00 Repair Kits . 6.20 NYLON STUFF BAGS for Each Size $ 5.00 EAi The warmest, most comfortable night anywhere is yours with Therm-a-Rest Pads En route, Steve and Susan had taken the uitimate plunge into the river(voluntarily, of course), and emerged "alive, kicking, and awake!! Jack and Anne had decided to head off for Mocrcock Base by themselves, léaving the: marvellous Mediuns to splash their way downstream.

After a leisurely lunch by the river, the final road walk out to the bus seemed an anticlimax. However, nothing not even wet socks, marital maniacs, flying boulders, or bumslides - could have spoiled the Epic Medium Trip, as they arrived in dribs and drabs at the bus; tired and happy they were greeted by the Fit trip, still bursting with unused energy. Epiloque: The results of the trial; round one: Rob Henry found guilty of being the sockman. Sentenced to three consecutive tramping trips with no socks at all.

Trip Members: Anne Greenwood, Rob Henry(alias Basil Fawlty), Murray Worsop, Kate Thomas, Steve Woolerton, Charles Kew, and Susan Fry(scribe)