Atiwhakatu - Cow Creek

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ATIWHAKATU-COW CREEK compelled us to move upwards again and when at last the ground levelled out As is now the custom, the T. & M. from the vertical ridge we realised we Club trip last week-end (Kiriwhakapapahad made very little distance but con- Mitre Flats) did not run. Thus it wase siderable height which we were under- that the majority of a nearly extinct standably loath to lose. species; the "tramping" Tongue and Meats; ran a private trip, with the aid We traversed further and got on to of an opposition club's transport. I a ridge, which, apart from small patches joined the truck at the Brown Owl, of supplejack had very little under- clambering on past Bruce Jefferies who growth and made easy going. From a was hoisting out over the back, apparvantage point we saw Fields Hut far ently under the delusion that the truck above and around from us, and the was Dave Capper's yacht, and trying Gorge far below. hard to drive our species further to At this point I am reminded of an old extinction by nearly falling off. Other- B.B.C. programme in which a Cockney wise the trip to Masterton was a quiet would introduce a story setting out a one, with war not breaking out between problem and would end with the ques- the two opposing clubs; who said tramption "What would you do Chum?"!!! ing was not competitive? Except that We continued climbing. we scorned their ice-cream shop at Featherston, and departed to our own on Apart from one or two bad spots the other side of the railway-line. The getting through stunted beech on the truck stopped at the swing bridge over bush line the ridge was quite good all the Waingawa, where Henk, Margaret, the rest of the way, and we were cer- Mary Finley (an ex-T. & M. whom we tainly not the first to use it. As we abducted from the other party), John plodded wearily up through the snow (a new member), and myself departed at grass to the crest of the ridge a few a slow pace for Bannister Hut; leaving wisps of mist curled around and a cold Norm. and Bruce with the other club to breeze sprang up, but we could think make their way towards the Pines and only of Feilds Hut and a hot brew. Mitre Flats. - We came out on the knob directly Saturday morning produced a saluabove the hut by Table Top and wasted brious trip up the Atiwhakatu, with at no time in joining the track and heading one stage, two brews inside an hour; I down. claim this to be a record. Margaret, It was five o'clock in the hut and two the trip leader, decreed that we would shooters who came behind us on the out-do Don Jeffs attempt at finding the track (wondering where we had suddenly new Angle Knob Hut, but by the time materialised fromi!) went down to tell the turn-off to Pinnacle Ridge saddle the rest of our party while we spelled was reached, light rain had set in, and ate a late (very) lunch with our heavily clouding the tops. Hence the welcome brew. party unanimously decided to make a fast trip to Mitre Flats Hut. From We made a valiant attempt to reach Pinacle Ridge saddle Henk was rethe van before dark, but despite our minded of those immortal words, "If efforts we needed a torch to cross I ever have to call out a search party Roaring Meg, but soon afterwards were for a lost Tongue and Meat, I'll wring changing by a roaring fire and swapping his bloody neck". If he is found I stories with the rest of the party. presume Nick? We slipped and slithered Insult was added to injury when we our way down the stream to the learnt that Fraser's party swam only the Waingawa, to arrive at the hut at 3 last pool and even that could have been p.m. We left John to share the hut sidled. with the Tararua party, and high-tailed

Photo by Fraser Walls. "Nature Boy" it for the new Cow Creek Hut, to find gress if inclined. But not for me. At it already occupied by Muff and Rick, all points the bush-muted roar of the of Northern fame, and another chap. cascading river and the sweet smell of These Government culler huts are the the bush, dappled in shade created harlast word in luxury; ply-lined and mony between three senses. The cool varnished, fireplace and six comfortable pools in the lower gorge drew us onsacking bunks, but as there was no wards, past Mitre Flats, but ignoring the kitchen sink there was no dreary wash- track, on through the gorge to the bush ing-up, paradise indeed. edge, where all parties assembled to Here we learnt that Bruce and Norm. make a brew and swim for an hour had met another Tararua Club member before our final trek to the waiting truck. and gone on to the hut at Arete Forks On the truck our party started one of the for the night, as the weather was too most successful sing-songs that I have poor to attempt a Bannister Crossing. ever heard, and spent the rest of the time On Sunday they continued up the profitably by recruiting members of the Waingawa to the Girdlestone-Brockett other club, so maybe our species will saddle, then out to the Pines via Mitre. not die out, after all. So much for that party. Ours made its A discussion on the truck proceeded way out down the Waingawa on a sunny, in this manner: windless (in the valleys only) Sunday. "I wonder who will be first off the Trips like this, with the weather as it truck, us or you?" was, make me think that this is one "By the time you have removed your of the most beautiful valleys in the carcasses we'll be dots on the horizon." Tararua Range, small enough to become "Ski-ing's the caper.' a part of, in some strange manner that The perpetrator of this heretical com- I cannot fully describe, with its many ment may consider himself as walking river flats, both grassy and wooded, but stew-food, no better. little undergrowth to impede fast pro- FRASER WALLS.