Bannister - Dalefield

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BANNISTER la DALEFIELD. June 24/26th. Actually, that isn't how the Trip Schedule Committee meant this trip to go but when I'm leader - well, anything can happen and usually does. Except for Bill the members did not know my reputation for mis= leading trips - the rest who had their names on the list preferred to pay their 12/- and go elsewhere! (Gee, Ruapehu was good that weekend. - Ed.) * and so it was with happy hearts they left Wellington. The weather report was shocking but that did not surprise Bill and I remembering an Orongo trip I once led. We dropped Phil, Walla and Dennis O'Neill at Kaitoke while the truck went blithely on over the Rimutakas. I told the party we were sleeping at Mountain House that night and happy hearts were much quieter. Something had happened to the road to Bennister - of course it never was a. main highway but going over it these days in a truck gives a good introduction to rodeo. Shaken but determined we alighted in rain at Bannister and told the driver we would most likely ring him Sunday Lunchtime and divert him back to the Wairarapa then regretfully let him go and turned our attention to the onwards-and-upwardness of Gentle Annie. Bill and I went last. We used to catch the others on the flat and downhill bits - old age creeping on apace. We were quietly having 9. smoke and a "sweetie" once when we heard horrible yells from up front. Mo and Dick had joined us by now - probably realising why we travelled last - and we sadly set off to find the others. They were obediently waiting at the flats turn-off for the leader. Well, how things have changed: Pig Flat as usual was muddy and cold but the reception Mountain House gave us was in line with its deserted appearance - positively arctic. We changed quickly and into the sack after counting the party gear. What with 4 compasses, a map, a slasher-axe, er - no axe that got left on the truck and quite a few billies we had more party gear than party. The leader, having heroically led across Pig Flat got a good bunk but the rearguard who had led most of the way up had to make do with the ground. Dennis woke frozen in the morning - he had "rolled" = who pushed who? - off the ground sheet. Bill end I on breakfast duty woke at 7. No alarm clock so we had gone to sleep chanting 5o'clock, 5o'clock, but it hadn't worked. While the party slept we spent 12 hours walking round to get warm and getting hungry while getting the fire alight. The wood was wet and of some unburnable variety. Breakfast was something of an anti-climax and morning tea fter this. We got avay to an "early" start at ten.

33 a So back over Pig Flat. The mist was low although the fine rain did not amount to much. The mud at the top ofthe track down to Totara Flats is of a very outstanding vericty. The difficulty is to tear oneself away from it. By the time we reached the Creek the rain was heavy, the mud We.S horrible and Cone Saddle seemed a better way to Smiths than Cone Peck. It wes too late to attempt that anyway. The Waiohine wa.s about a foot up and we had to ford at the bend below Totara Creek. Having got Dennis and Betty all keyed up to swimming they were somewhat disappointed when it only got to thigh - hip depth. Still even that can be quite good - ask Bill who was upstream! Some preferred to cross by cage - a very much slower method. The skies had taken the play properly out of the bath by now and considering the fact that we might have to faco a flooded Tauwherenikeu in the dark and would probably only get to Cone Hut and have to go out over Reeves anywey with the help of nost of tho party I talked ourselves into staying at Totara Flnts Hut. Deve and Koith were rearing to go but we managed to crlm them down. It cleared a little later in the afternoon but a roaring fire for a Guppa and stew was no invitetion to up packs and off. In the evening after nattering on avalanches and snow and ice technique - we had Frank real concerned about his first attempt on Ruapehu! - we slipped into the sack when behold - enter three chaps all the way from Smiths. They told us about three chaps there who had asked them in for a cuppa and as soon Es that was finished had another one on - I gather they finally escaped! It rained very heavily during the night end the laiohine was a. roaring dirty brown the next morning. Seyers Track and out? Bill, Dave and I were to go on ahead to ring the truck. Dave alone of the party had been over the track although Nick (one of the late errivals) knew where it started so we left the rest to his tender mercies. Actually Nick apparently ended up in the rear and Mr. Sayers showed our party the track. e had to use the cage of course and the first few had a. wet and uncomfortable trip with pouring rain and wind. Howevor, we wouldinever have made it without the cage. Totara Creek was hardly up at all although moving round the big slip down to Sayers we were in and out of the aiohine beceuse it we.s so high. Sayers Track was not appreciated much by any of us. It seems just one long pull - although Dave kept saying hopefully, "It should level out soon." I think it did once or twice! e had quite 2. good view from the top although looking at Pig Flat over the way we felt the ridiculousness of our trip. It would have been easier to stay at Bannister and trot over the hill! And then down. We arrived at Mro Peerce's house at twenty to ono and rang through for the truck. Mr. Pearce deserves our very great thanks - he provided tea for us all the afternoon. And so back home. Member of the trip wereg- Bill Rice, Dennis Lee, Keith Jenvey, Dick Noble, Dave Catchpole, Frank lcGowen, Mo Allen, Betty Brewster. Marie Marshall (Leader.)

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