The Quoin Ridge Trip

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THE QUOIN RIDGE TRIP. March 17-19th. Twelve eager types trooped over to Smiths Creek on Friday night in promising (?) weatner. Three of us made an early start for Alpha on Seturday morning, and the rest of the party left at 9a.Me, an hour later. The mist crept down at 11a.m. and by the time we had reached the open patches near the top of Block XV111 the rain had started and the wind had fresher ed. The weather quickly deteriorated, and by the time re had made Alpha at 1.30p.m. we were very vet and cold. Luckily there was plenty of fairly dry wood in the hut and we soon had a fire going. Eight shooters arrived not long after us = they has stayed at Alloway-Dickson on Friday night and had come up Block XV1. By 2.30p.m. most of the others had turned up, then half an hour later Dave Caswell came rushing in with two packs. Mike had been getting cramp badly and had stopped on Hells Gates. Dave and Titch hurried back and helped him on to the hut. Shortly after this two more shooters staggered in making thirgs rather congested. To add to the general confusion everyone began developing cranp and Dave, who was quickly appointed chief masseur, was kept busy dashing round rubbing various limbs. However, apart from Mike, this was soon overcome and we set to and cooked a big tea. After this we held a fortune telling ses session conducted by a menter of the party tho thought she knet all about p alms. As there as no room for movement we on - 26 - DOT Dlo tain all retired into our sacks at an early hour, and, apart from the usual disturbences from the micc, slept soundly. The weather did not improve over-night, so only seven of us decided to go on do'n the Quoin, - hile the rest 7 were to come back along the Merchant. Ve left the nut at 90.mo and sidled round to the left of the top of Alpha on to the Quoin Ridge After ve had been goinr a fev minutes, however, various people began arruing as to whether ve rere on the richt track or not, but efter a rather lone consultation - ith mep and compass, ve decided re T ere'nt on the Southern Crossing, as some seemed to think, but on the Quoin. We proceeded along the ridge over numerous little saddles, for about an hour and a quarter until-we came to the top of the Quoin there we stopped ten minutes for a cigorette. The mist cleared at noon and the sin vas shining brightly Then we stopped at the forks for lunch about 1p.m. Coming out over the last hill, we became vcry hot, and the last part dot n the other side very prickly, as the track had disappeared into a large stretch of overgrown gorse. A burnt patch. at the botton also helper improve our oppesrances, and to of us, (we took a short(?) cut) emergod-looking rather itke a new type of aboriginee. - However, a very T elcome shor er atithe P.T.D.Camp soon had us clean and smiling, ready to greet the rest of our party rho arrived helf-an-hour later, having lad an enjoyable trip doin the Marchant. Those on the trip vere; Rod Milne, Tich Grahem, Les Secker, Dave Cast ell, Hori McGahey, Jack Jessop Viv Clendon (Quoin), and Pam Skelton, Dave Lore (Leader) Mike Reddington, Don Bost ell, Lloyd Tilkin (Marchant) V.J.C.