Owen - Matiri

Machine-read text (unproofread)

Read from the scans by software, so it contains mistakes. Typing it up properly would help blind readers: use Suggest an edit.

OWAN - MATIRI The first major obstacle on this trip downhill section to Ferris Hut which, was the Owen Hotel, situated temptingly being seldom used, was a real beauty. 100 vards before the turn-off, but at With a Kettlewell 4.30 a.m. start we 7.30 on a bright Christmas morning it took the true right-hand branch of the posed no real threat and we were soon creek and climbed with the early mornheading up the true right of the Middle ing sun through deep snowgrass on to Owen River. the Bald Knob Range. There a succes- After three-quarters of an hour from sion of bluffs finally obliged us to drop the road cnd the track turned sharply back on to a bush ridge where scrub and across the Owen and begun a steep, un- stunted beech made going difficult. compromising ascent through beech Despite the fact that the choppers had forest. Just below the bush line, perched just taken out 600 head there was a tenuously on a narrow shelf was an old good scattering of deer around, they miners' hut of modest proportions and didn't secm particularly scarey and elementary construction. A stiff climb trotted casually into the bush when through the snow grass brought us on to approached. the Owen Range, where Jim and I Wc finally dragged ourselves out of the brewed some snow whilst waiting for bush at 3 p.m. and on to a peak named Bill C. who had diverged off in one of simply "D". Once on open tops again his celebrated "short cuts" up a forbid- the pace speeded up. a little, a happy ding bluff face. Due to erosion by the change from the morning's long struggle. elements the limestone tops had been Our objective was to drop. quickly into shaped into deep tomos and razor-edged the Matiri River, so choosing the Trent ridges thereby inviting some caution Stream as a likely route, we shot off the with consequent delays. The last pitch to ridge and began a long scramble down the top, reached at 2.30 p.m., necessitated the headwaters. A major earthquake in an approach fom the SW as the direct 1934 had shaken down this area conroute was badly broken up by a con- siderably and this was still evident in the fusion of tumbling rocks, not dissimilar many slips, waterfalls and high-level to glacier formation. lakes which again slowed things down A wide sidle to the left over deeply somewhat. etched outcrops brought us down to a Eventually we reached the Matiri at large snow grass basin, complete with around 6 p.m. and after encountering welcome tarns. As the weather looked further slip problems ona grander scale like packing in, with increasing souther- we were able in the failing light to follies whistling around our cars, we pushed low-a casually marked track to Machoon to a marked Forest Service hut, sited niches Hut. The place was alive with just above the bush edge; however, rats whose squealing and general banging pleasant anticipation of hut comforts were around held off sleep for a brief while. swiftly crushed as we came upon fire- The indefatigable Kettlewell dragged blackened remains, only the metal chim- us out again at first light, and by followney had survived. A quick check with ing a reasonably defined track, we moved the map followed by a 1-hour dash down swiftly towards Lake Matiri. This proved the arid bed of Blue Creek and we had to be a real scenic beauty cradled in a our feet up in a battered, but comfort- spectacular sweep of hills, all made more able, shooters' hut with the prospect of attractive by the warm morning sun. a dry night ahcad, really dry, for therc However, it was now 9 a.m. on our last wasn't a drop of water in sight. Rather day and we were 34 miles from our than endure a night of the dry horrors, start point, and Bill's Vauxhall. So Jim Bill C. clected to return to the tops and I shouldered most of the lad's gear bringing back a couple of billies of whilst he shot off ahead along the dusty murky but much appreciated tarn water. metal road. Six thirsty hours later we Next day with the crud sweeping in, were all happily getting outside a cool we recrossed the tops and, by sidling glass of beer in the Owen Hotel. large bluffs to the left, dropped into the tramped Matiri/Owen area, rich offers in a relatively unhead of Nuggety Creek. Jim's magic only a few miles down variety the road and from interest the compass took us over a small saddle and heavily patronised Nelson into the head of the Own Left Branch Thoes on the trip were Lakes. Bill Cronin, where we hit a marked track taking a Jim Kettlewell and Bill Hargreaves.