Ruahine Reconnaissance, Easter 1960

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RUAHINE RECONNAISSANCE, around the mountain. Thus, because EASTER 1966 of the weather, some members took off for home, obviously having had At Easter 11 T&M's went to have more than was good for them the a look at the North Tararua Extennight before, while those who stayed sion. Attention was tentatively fixed on in our hut, A.T.C. and the Wai- on the Saw-tooth Ridge, so entry was kato hut, played chess, serabble and made via a rather hairy road ending cards-all very educating, of course. at Farm Mill, approximately in the Proceedings for the 3rd party of the centre of the east side. Here is the weekend commenced about 7.30 p.m. result. on Sunday. The band dutifully play- We had the usual night's trip, aced; the dancers danced; the drinkers companied by the established blur of continued to drink; and, God forbid, passing towns, sudden stops and visits some still wanted to sleep. to cafes. All this ended peacefully in This party, in the main, was con- a halt, miles from anywhere, but on fined to members, and a jolly good the threshold of a new land. time was had by all. It finished up After a short night's sleep, on we about 12 o'clock (that night, you bumped to Farm Mill. This was a clot!), after an extension having peaceful, rather remote place in full been granted by the trip leader. view of the main Ruahine range. We (Good old Dave, you can lead the breakfasted in the shelter of some Walls Whare opening, sport!) tall trees, the weather was fine and During the evening Marie Shorter cool, and the farmer showed us an presented a ski-ing trophy to the easy access on to the tops. club which she had purchased while Our departure was heralded by a in Australia. This trophy is to be horde of excited dogs just released, awarded to the most improved skier and obviously fitter than we were. of the season. It's a lovely model of The route we'd been told of led up a skier 'at speed', and Marie is to be a leading spur on to a newly-cut commended for her very kind action. track towards a new hut. This is ex- On Monday the weather was again actly as we found it as we meanderputrid, and time to leave for home ed billies on our merry way. Lower down, became filled with come could not round quick enough record huge mushfor some; 2 p.m. saw everyone clamb- rooms, in wild profusion, photographs and occasionally shot off ering down the hill towards trucks some progress was made. and cars. Derek and Don were in front, and The general opinion of the social higher up they put a brew on. Now side of affairs was that it had been we could take stock of our new tera terrific opening, and will long be rain. It appeared completely similar remembered as one of the most suc- to the Tararuas, almost the same here cessful official parties the club has as access to Fields. In front and alheld yet. most at right angles reared the main It was also agreed that the organ- Ruahine Range, which is of great isers of the supper, band and liquor length but quite uncomplicated. Deer were roaring all round, and made for solo descent. He found a route and itchy trigger fingers. Early in the came up again like a young chamois. afternoon the new cullers' hut hove Norman found an alterantive route into view. Built at Christmas 1959 by and one by one, petrified bits of helicopter delivery, it lies in an ideal humanity made their way down the position. Although only made for 'wall-of-death' and into the river. We four, there was plenty of room for found ourselves on a small bouldereleven, so we duly made ourselves at strewn shelf, partly enclosed turhome. by Mention should be made about bulent water. It was windy, dark and the fireplace here. In front is a moist. We made ourselves at home. 'draught trapdoor'. Upon opening it, Brian made a superb fire under imair shoots into the fire, giving a sort possible conditions, and we survived. of blacksmith's fire effect. Dave and Peter 'lost' their tent in the During the afternoon, Brian, Bruce night, and the morning dawned clear and Dave had a look at the tops; the and bright. Sunday drifted peacefully weather wasn't great and they soon as we made little progress under returned. In their absence, two deer Medt conditions, lying in the sun. cullers were treated to a brew in Watching Dion do a mighty slide their own hut. They gave us lots of ascent provided comic relief, and furambitious times, like, for instance, ther gentle meandering caused our four hours for Saw-tooth Ridge, etc. arrival at ideal river flats. Here As we quietly collapsed for the Brian again demonstrated his firenight, full of 'dehy', we wondered raising ability and we had a fire of what the morrow would bring. Satur- immense proportions nestling in the day brought the familiar grey. vapour shelter of a great rock. Two shooters and a superb act by Peter in his black passed by, and an idle contentment weightlifting garment. Derek and descended on the spot. During the Julien launched their own private ex- night a heavy dew landed, but the pedition into the river, and as we fire blazed merrily on. Monday was steadily gained height, conditions be- magnificent. From our camp site the came slightly unpleasant. going was similar to the Makaretu, About midday, a rapid descent and the atmosphere was filled with (from 4500ft) was made, just before sparkling sunshine. We came upon going on to the main range, via a Derek and Julien, and some more giant shingle slide. These seem to be shooters, methodically striking camp. a characteristic of the Ruahines and They'd been up the Tuki-Tuki the day provide a useful means of retreat. before. Now we joined and made a Negotiating a certain amount of quick and peaceful exit. leatherwood brought us to a small, Back to the farm we struggled, damp place near the headwaters of a aware now of the beauty we were river, a tributary of the Tuki-Tuki. leaving, of new memories of a pleas- Here we raised fire, and brewed, and ant range. ate, and cursed. However, the mist DAVE CAPPER. was above us now, and even the fine * * * rain was stopping. Dion decided to make for lower pastures, due to the Report on the chess match between possibility of a bad morrow, and so our club and the CTC. The third of we set off downstream. This seemed its kind, it occurred on Monday, May to be easier said than done, for the 16. It was, socially, a great success, river became gorge-like in character. but judging by the results a fiasco Norman, Dion and Bruce, who were for our CTC friends. Thanks go to in the lead, came to a vast waterfall, Jim Quinlan for the arrangements. almost 100ft hight, which caused a CTC team: P. Rawnsley, T. Berthold, little concern. The weather was black G. Adams, J. Beaumont, A. Rawnsand depressing, with the time at 5 ley, J. Graaf, J. Purdie, J. Quinlan. o'clock. Our grim sidling was reward- Games won, 1; lost 7. WTMC team: ed by an even worse prospect-we D. Capper, L. Sondej, D. Jeffs, R. were suddenly on a steep, loose rock Fayle, N. Jennings, H. Hall, A. face. As the party stood like statues Kettles, F. Walls. Games won 7; lost on an unpleasant angle, Dion did a 1.