Mt Holdsworth - Jumbo - Atiwhakatu Stream

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MT. HOLDSWORTH - JUMBO i ATIWHAKATU STREAM. Friday night was one of those rare Tararua nights, no cloud and a waning full moon. When we reached Rocky Lookout we knew that we were in for plenty of snow as we could see the whole of the Holdsworth-Witre ridge covered almost to bush level. After a draughty night and a reasonably good breakfast we left Mountain House about 7a.m.; or should I say that 3 of us left, the other 5 cnergetic jokers having gone d onto Powell Hut the night before. On arrival at Powell we found them still having breakfast but we didn't mind this a great deal as we managed to bludge a bit to eat. Leaving a hut seems to be a great time to take photographs for we spent about 5 minutes standing in front of the hut watching the "Dicky Bird". The day was perfect except for a high Southerly wind which quite often blew you off the beaten track. There was plenty of snow around and there was even enough for a few ski runs, but is wasn't the best for walking as every so often you would break through up to your waist which wasn't so pleasant. Nothing startling happened between Holdsrorth and Jumbo vhich took us about 2 hours. Seeing that it was a fine day and nov fairly near 12 o'clock we decided that the top of Jumbo would be a good place for lunch, so we had ito We nearly had a cup of tea too with the billy full of snow, the tea and sugar all ready and then Frankcouldn't get his primus to go. After lunch we decided we would do a bit of tobogganing, without a toboggan, This may say a bit silly but after selecting a nice patch of snow with a flat at the bottom for a brake we got out our parkas and with these on and the hood up slid head first down the slope. You can have a lot of fun seeing who goes furthest - Johnny and Charlie were our record breakers. At 1.15 we decided we'd had enough of playing around in the snow So we pushed off down the ridge to the stream. The ridge is fairly easy to follow and as there is very little undergrowth there it takes very little time to go from Jumbo down. Seeing that we had all next day to get out we pitched camp fairly early in the afternoon. I think we had a record number of billies on the fire that night. At one time there were 7 of them - for 8 people. Of course Johnny insists on using his rusty billy, he reckons it gives the food that extra flavour, He did tell me once how old it was, 10 years I think he said. After a protracted breakfast we left our camp site about 11a.m. and headed for Bannister. Ve soon found that we weren't going to get down the river dry for in the lower part of this stream there is a gorgeo Still, that's nothing startling as most Tararua rivers have gorges. In the deepest pool the water came up to our waists (And boy, that was cold)

so I'd advise anyone going in there after a bit of rain to keep out of the gorge. Tom Lawton. I. - With_Knobs On!" Just a few more weeks to Xmas And ve'll all be free to roam. Just a few more days of labour And we'll all be leaving home! Then the Boss can keep his yacker And his ruddy job as vell, For I'm heading for the ranges Fhere there's no "knock-on" bell. And instead of waking early To alarum's strident scream, I can lie in bed till mid-day And do nothing else but dreamo All the clerks can leave their typing, And for a space be free Where the only types that matter Are the funny types they see. All the chauffeurs can stop shoving Dear cldladies round to bridge, And really take it easy Just a'shoving up a ridge. Storemen packers shout in chorus "Three whole weeks before we're back, I1 And there's nothing really urgent In the pack upon their back. Salesmen need not Selling socks and rREEto ties sports, For the only clothes that matter Are thoselovely dirty shorts. Ve poor drivers need not toil Driving loaded trucks for miles, It's a better job just driving Slumber's sleep across the stiles. 'Tis a vondrous time is Ymas, Far from the city's tricks, Vhen the poor benighted tramper Gives vork to carry bricks. you "Bo tinker, soldier, tailor, Or, just like ne, a jerk, Here's wishing you a Xmas MILES and MILES away from work! Phil Phillips.