Rainbow Valley rambles

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Rainbow Valley rambles Dan Wilson And so, Ladies and Gentlemen, mighty plugging was the order of the afteroaks from little acorns grow, and five noon, beautiful to watch from the likely lads found themselves trudging rear of the column. We traversed up the Rainbow Valley, one of them, around some snowbasins to gain the namely me, wearing bright red laser ridge above the south col. A short running shoes. Apart from thick walk along the ridge and we were there. matagouri and scrub, and the occasion- Time for food and photos. 4 o'clock al dip in one of the meandering found us back at the river (sunbathing streams which laced the valley floor, of course). the travel was pleasant in fine conditions. The thought of the sweating Due to daylight saving, we were once and grunting to come gave it a nice again up and about before daylight edge, and every moment was savoured. and heading off into the chilly distance. A good walk to the head of All too soon we arrived at the head of the Sabine and a foot thawing session the valley. Lunch was taken, with comin the early sun. Following this we pulsory fired brew. And then, up we ploughed through deep but crusty snow climbed, scrambled, and sweated. The to the ridge north-east of Belvedere snowline, when we reached it, was a Peak. A sense of urgency had surfaced welcome sight. The red running shoes among the ranks and all ideas of side no longer looked so flash. I opened trips had vanished. my pack and removed my climbing boots. Muttering arose from the ranks. Like The ridge was corniced and inhospitably the red running shoes, San Marco skisteep, and the whole basin below was mountaineering boots looked out of filled with avalanche debris. Dave place among the motley collection of was cast off with orders to plough tramping boots. headlong down a steep gully with little regard for life or limb. The rest From the muttering it was decided that followed in the thigh deep trail, the waterproof plastic boots were eyeing the hanging slab-avalanche ideal for step-plugging in the soft break lines apprehensively. We evensnow. Ye Gods! tually found a way through the bluffs below the snow basin and moved down Surprisingly, progress was good and we the grassy valley to take a quick reached the ridge crest about midlunch (no fire and no brew) below afternoon and gazed down towards the Paske Hut. East Sabine for a suitable campsite. This was duly found some 1500 feet Lunch over and the starter fired his down near some tarns. gun. The red running shoes really came into their own as Paul led the Apart from a gentle zephyr which forced troups on like a barrelling locomotive employment of a midnight fly re-erector through the searing heat of an exa good night's sleep was had. Breakglacial Rainbow Valley. 5 p.m. and fast was a dim affair resembling a game we were ready to roll. Some 'rough of blindman's bluff - cold muesli at and ready' rally driving took us down 4.30 in the a.m. through Rainbow Station in most of one piece and we were walking up the Day packs were thrown together and we gangplank at 7.50, just in time for set off for Mt McKay. The climb was some sleep. straightforward and the views were tantalising. In all, a memorable weekend with weather which had to be experienced Back at camp for a brew at 9 before to be believed. proceeding down to the river, while gazing at our route up to Mt Franklin On the trip were: on the other side. A good fire pro- Trevor Bissell, Terry Crippen, Paul duced a quick brew and we lay back Richardson, Dave Wills and Dan Wilson enjoying sunshine and scenery. - also starring Little Green Carolla. Terry succumbed at this stage to feet problems and he just smiled as we headed upwards. Avalanche debris down to the river made for good progress to a narrow scree gut, up which we travelled to find the snowline just beyond the rim. The heat was oppressive and my feet felt like boiled sausages. Step