Oriwa Ridge, 1960 (The T.&M.s Have Done It Again)

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ORIWA RIDGE, 1960 the Waitewaewae side of this bump at 6 o'clock, under the guarding eyes (The T.&M.s Have Done It Again) of a lonesome Morepork. It was, had alas, a dry camp and to be without For years now Dave Capper water after such a warm day, made worked himself into a frenzy over it double torture. Fried mince and this ridge. Unfortunately, no one bread for tea was delicious, after all ever cared to join him, that is until the seroggin we'd had all day. Early the writer of this article, with his next morning the last drops of water absolute ignorance of the ridge, came were squeezed out of Joes' tiny water along. After much talk, J. Pember- bottle, and then we were off. At ton let himself be persuaded, while N. seven this time. Whiteside at the last moment decided Three hours later, at the Waiteto make it a "safe" party. waewae River, four almost de- On Friday the 26th August we set hydrated trampers had a fair go at off and assembled at the station just lowering the level of this friendly in time to see our train leave the plat- little stream. Half an hour of drinkform. After some coffee and toast, ing, eating and more drinking, before we boarded the 5.42 to Levin. This we pushed off to the hut, where we part of the trip was uneventful, save had several brews and spent two for Dave practicing rock-climbing on glorious hours sunbathing. At 1 the steam engine. A taxi took us o'clock we set off on our last bit of to Ohau pipebridge, where we arrived a "salubrious day", (quote Dave) and at 9.30 p.m. After floundering at 4a very relieved "Possum" crossed through the paddocks more than a Roaring Meg, took off his boots and little( all of us knew the way, but tossed them over his shoulder into none of us could decide which of the the creek. As Nick had promised to four to follow), we finally stumbled pick us up at 6 we killed time eating across the Waiopehu track. After a and drinking. It was then that some short stop to consume some scroggin, Ruapehu Queens birthday what-awe shot straight up to Waiopehu hut, weekend-guests, happened to pass by. where we arrived at 1.30 a.m. As their VW was rather overloaded At five o'clock a very reluctant with beer, we obligingly offered to "Possum" crawled out of his "pit" help them get rid of it. Poor Nick, and joined the "happy band". An he just couldn't understand why the hour later we started racing to Waio- Coca-Cola he brought along wasn't pehu top. We made it in just under appreciated. an hour and your writer was sur- -By THE "POSSUM." prised to find that his knowledge of (Editorial Note.-Henk "Possum" the hills was not too bad after all. is Dutch, and he hasn't been in New In no time at all Mounts Ruapehu and Zealand many years, and I think his Egmont were recognised, as also were grasp of the English language re- Kapiti and eh - anyway, markable.) Dave decided not to waste any more * * * time, and we started off. Our eyes were on The Ridge. After an hours We are the pilgrims Master, but we struggle through lawyer and leathershall go wocd, we came upon a rough track, Always a little further; it maybe which made the going a good deal Beyond that last blue mountain easier, until Lake Hollow where we barred with snow had our first, last, and only brew of Across that angry or that glimmering the day. On we went again, with the sea, going varying from bad to hellish. While on a throne or guarded in a As the day grew older, our stops becave came more frequent, until we rested There lies a prophet who can underfor a few minutes every half hour. stand Oriwa, Not-Oriwa and several other Why men are born, but surely we un-named bumps were conquered at are brave the cost of sweat, blood and skin, Who take the Golden Road to until at last, Table Top, or at least Samarkand. that is what we called it. Long, flat From Hassan, and hellish. We camped down on by James Elroy Fletcher,