Two Novices Try Week-end Tramping

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THO NOVICESTRY RE-RD.TRFING. The "we" in this trip, which was bound for Waiopehu Hut, were Esther- Mary Rigg (Leader), Thelma Dodge, Ivy Legg, Kary Houston and Margaret Chapman. Je left Wellington at 8.15 on the Saturday morning of Kings Birthday Weekend, and by means of a train which stopped at every station and frequently at no stations at all, found ourselves at Levin by eleven and then half an hour later at the Pipe Bridge. The Tararuas were shrouded in cloud and rain had started to fall steadily. Nevertheless, hen party that we were, we decided to boil the billy for a brew before we really started on our way. This was a.ccomplished by 12.30 when the "fast" trampers - Esther-Mary and Thalma - forged ahead and reached the hut (so they said) at 5p.m. We (Ivy and the two novices, fresh from reading Phil Gardner's article) decided we were going to make the hut admittedly at a steedy pace, but nevertheless at one of our own making. An hour later we reached the bush line and there a notice told us that we had only five miles to go, time two and three quarter hours. We were delighted to think that, in this, our first trip into real N.Z. bush, we could afford the time to look around and admire the few feet of it that visibility did allow. Before long, however, we discovered it WC.S a case of eyes down or sit down. Waiopehu mud seemed to intrigue Mary and Margaret. Over and over again Mary seemed to use one of her legs as a depth measure; after each of which spasms Ivy hed to turn back and haul while Mergaret heaved from behind. On the other hand the mud did not affect Margaret in this way nt all. She preferred to test out its buoyency, occa.sionally by sitting down. (so did one of the fast trempers, so we were told.) On we plod, until, at 4.30 we spotted a hut; surely "the Hut", for it was just on time. Imegine our dismey when we discovered it was only the tin hut three miles up and we had only half an hours daylight left. we had been tramping at the amazing speed of one mile per hour. Yet hadn't we often heard the tough trompers at Club speak of Friday evenings by torchlight? We carried on regardle.3. By five it was dark and the rain was beating down steadily. We were soaked and our fingers were too cold to manipulate the catch on Margeret's torch. At 6.30 the monotony of the journey was broken. For the first time Margaret, our time-keeper, grew uneasy. We hed failed to pass the mile disc at the half hour interval. At 6.40 there was still no sign of it. Yet the mud through which we were wading suggested that we were still on the track. At 6.50 Ivy spotted a "water" signo We gave a cheer. To our utter emazement it was answered by the flash of torches immediately below us. Four Tararua types, thinking that we were bushed, had gallantly donned wet boots and socks to

23 a come and rescue us. They wouldn't believe us but it was chance, rather than plan, that the rescue was enacted on the doorstep of Waiopehu Hut. Notwithstanding their justifieble chagrin we must hand it to the Tararuas - they made marvellous nurses - and the stew they geve us was equally so. Sunday we awoke bright and early, fresh with the rein that had leaked through the roof all night. The sixteen odd Tararuas took their departure around 9a.m. and we set about getting dry. Ivy proved as efficient at swinging the axe as at billy-boiling and by lunch time we were ready to attempt the summit, complete with dry socks. There, we reaped the reward of our weekend tramping - a wonderful view of Ggmont, Ruapehu and the Northern Tararuas awaited us. Monday we set out early. The storm of the previous evening had made the track one degree worse (if that was possible) but we reached the flats without mishap end in ono hour less time. M.C.