Waitaru - Dennan

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* WAITAURU-DENNAN Friday night found most of us down time that portion of a steaming hot brew at the station rather earlier than usual of cocoa that hadn't been spilled on the to farewell Norm Clarkson off on his fire, was being handed around and meetround-the-world jaunt. Having done the ing approval. send-off honours in style, the stay-at- About an hour's slogging after lunch homes piled into Owen's truck and the spur bore left and after dropping screamed off into the night. into a saddle became decidedly steeper, Despite cries of "It's too cold", necessitating a change down to low gear. Margaret was firm when the truck Bush crashing upwards was now the stopped and as we walked the several means of travel. The first patches of miles to the Otaki Cottage, there was snow were appearing amongst the ample time to speculate on just how leatherwood as the mist gradually swalmuch snow there must be on the tops. lowed us into its eneveloping swirls. About the time we were convinced the Now the bush disappeared behind us, road would never end, the cottage leaving odd little vistas around each loomed out of the dark, and after the Tung'n'meat of a section of sharp spur traditional brew, pits were unrolled and covered in snow grass and snow. Away soon all were asleep. above the main party, Piers, Nicky, and Next morning dawned bright and Henk began yelling, obviously they had cold and as we crunched our way over arrived on Dennan. Thus spurred on, the frosted grass, the thought of the speed was increased and as further height Waiotauru we had to cross was upper- was gained, the mist thinned. Away to most in our minds. It was freezing but the right an ominous dark bulk was we soon started to warm up as we got forming, growing sharper, more defined, going up this elusive Dennan spur, de- then all at once we were out of the termined to help Margaret crush it once murk and West Peak was visible. We and for all. Extra clothing wasn't long had made it through into the sun, acin being doffed once the initial steepness companied for the last few feet by perbegan to take its toll. sonal spectres of the Brocken. The deer trail we had been following Here was a view worth twice the from the start was fairly good for a effort. To the "golden" coast in the while, then a moment of indecisionwest, and as far as the eye could see in which way to go. John came to the other directions, a flat layer of mist at rescue, displaying a latent tree-climbing 4,000 feet obliterated everything but the talent. Taking a bearing on his out- snow-covered peaks of the Tararuas stretched arm, we were soon trundling piercing this eerie landscape. Further along the right track once more. afield, Egmont, Ruapehu, and the Kai- As we climbed higher a mist began to kouras were also visible, while to the form overhead, blocking out anticipated west the sun glittered on the sea views of our objectives, Dennan and silhouetting Kapiti. Cameras were West Peak, but what the heck, it was clicked, peaks identified, and chocolate time for lunch, and that was much more passed in the pleasant hour spent on the important. We at once came upon a vantage point of Dennan. grubby little pig wallow, filled the billy, Time was passing, so reluctantly packs and began to tuck into the goodies. In were shouldered, backs turned towards the lowering sun, and steps made towards On the way back, probably because we West Peak and Vosseler Hut. On the way were slightly mad Tung'n'meats, we all up noisy greetings were exchanged with lay on our backs in the crisp snow and some of Ursula's party heading back to counted shooting stars for half an hour Fields for the night. Snow was becoming on Hut Mound. Then, glissading down more prevalent the higher we went until towards Vosseler Hut for a final brew, near the top, it lay broken only by the a repeat birthday serenade was started icicled tops of snow grass peering up. through the crust. Next morning was misty again, so Just before sunset all were installed in leaving about 11 o'clock, we began the Vosseler with a crowd of schoolboys descent by the normal route to the cotfor company. Appetites were obviously tage, foregoing ideas of Sheridan Creek. in fine form to judge by the copious Peter rescued a dog on Table Top and quantities of food being prepared for the carried it down to the cottage where we evening meal. Five people preparing to joined Ursula's party for the usual race eat an entire club billy of stew by them- along the road to the truck. selves were saved from their ghastly fate Altogether a very pleasant trip, made by the timely arrivel of some hungry even better by a welcome stop on the C.T.C.'s from Old Kime. It was dis- way home for shark and boards. covered that today was Piers b.runuay, -BRIAN DEVON. so we began to serenade him with the Those on the trip were: Margaret usual songs reserved for these occasions. Webb (leader), Alister Barr, Henk Leaving him, no doubt embarrassed Bertholet, Peter Daniel, Gary Lund, by these attentions, the rest of the party Nicky Parkinson, John Patchett, Piers took off to Old Kime to return the visit. Westacott. *