Trials in Traversing

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TRIALS IN TRAVERSING. In chodionceto the Trip Schedule, Bill Rice (Leader), Graeme Hall and Terry Moore skipped a Hut Working Barty (October 29/31) to try a Matthews - Papatahi Traverse. Bill and I went through on the Trampers Bus and did not arrive at Baines until almost 3 a.mo (Saturday), after giving what help we could to Ray Birch who had nicked his leg on a cross-cut that he was carrying in. At Baines we sat up until five, waiting for Hori who was coming through on

6 b decided We the 10.15 p.m. Eastbourne Bus, When he did not arrive we/would be too tired to do the trip anyway cnd so cooked breakfast and went to bed at 6 a.m, a judging by my reactions we wore aslcep at 6.1 e.m. i woke at 8 a.m. to the insistent ringing of Hera's If alamm Clock a he had clept for three hoursat the COw bailsi-and feasisd with him on a second breakfast before going back to sleep et nine. We wer ken next time by "Snow" Williams and friend Ralph Boiton at three. Soon after this we started preparing tea and some Hutt Velley typos arrived. Although we did not have official permission to use the Hut their Trip Leader assured us that there would be plenty of room for us end had also given us their axe to carry in. Now, however, their Leader did, not prriver and as the atmosphere was rather frigid the five of us movad over to Baine-Iti. We decided to trv the scheduled trip on the Sunday so off to bed about 9.30 with the alarm set for 2 a.mo a unfortunately it went off then, but e.s the bunks seemed like feather mattresses at that hour we did not leave until 4.15 a on a very dark rorning. The track up Matthews starts from Baines Hut and after crossing the Matthews Stream three or four times climbs fairly steadily upwards. The whole track is in good order and well disced. On the last lap to the top from just abeve the South Saddle the track passes through moss covered sub-alpine forest, I have not seen so many moss festooned trees in any other srea I have yet visited. All the troes are elmost completely enwrapped in it and the whole area is very demp, with the continuous dripping of condensed mist which seems to enfold the top for most of the time. From just above the South Saddle we had an excellent view of the Muka- Mukas with their sharp, rugged ridges and the steep shingle slides running down to the Valley whose ribbon of blue stream led the eye out to Palliser Bay and the sea. This glorious view, unfortunately, did not last long, the mist swiftly approached from the other side of the velley driven by a fairly strong, cold wind. We reached the top in 1 hour 55 minutes from BainewIti and sat down for a spell and to try and get somo circulation back in our hands. After talking over the weather conditions we decided to turn back a we had no wish to get on to a wrong ridge in the mist end land who kmows where, and me.y" be we were a little tired too. Anywey, we about faced, and arrived back at the Hut in one and a half hours a at 8 2.mo The only other incident in an enjoyeble week end was the brew that our party and Don Doment cooked up et the Half Way Log on the way out a much to th he surprise of other bus-bound tr. pors, T.M.