My First and Last FE

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My First and Last FE Sue Charles At Club one night in Feb '83 I was approached by Brian Hunt who invited me on his 'Middle Mystery' tramp in the Tararuas. When I hesitated he told me I'd be fit enough to do it, so I put my name down on his list. A week before the trip someone said "I see you're going on Brian's FE!" Nobody could have been more surprised than me, especially as I'd always emphatically vowed never to do one. Momentarily stunned I tried to think what large boulders kept us busy looking 'FE' stood for. 'Fairly Easy'? for the best route. We then No, that didn't sound right. took the true lefthand creek, The FE's were the ones that raced Whatiuru, from where we got good past the other trips on a Friday views of the Tararua Peaks. night and weren't usually seen By now we knew we were heading again until late Sunday afternoon. for these. I remembered now the wording on the Trip Schedule - 'FE" Fitness Lunch was enjoyed in the sun Essential, over 8 hours per day. at the foot of a spur which we Over 8 hours that could mean later climbed up to Maungahuka. anything! I definitely was Most of the party seemed to run not in the FE class. up the 2500' steep slope. Something was wrong I couldn't keep up. Everyone kindly assured I rang Brian and begged him to me I was not holding up the party. remove my name from his list Why then was every always sitting but he refused, saying it was when I, red faced and puffed too late. He cheerfully added out, eventually caught up? that I would be able to cope. I hadn't even stopped to take I put the phone down and thought photos. about it. Of course I could cope - hadn't I recently returned from a Christmas trip where we The hut at Maungahuka Tarn is sited climbed rocks as big as houses in a beautiful spot, especially in the '10 Hour Gorge' on the in the weather we experienced. Arawata River. Recollections How lucky we were to get magnifiof balancing on top of one of cent views, a chance to observe those rocks with a foot wedged, a variety of alpine plant life, blubbering because I couldn't and to feel the warmth of the make my call for help heard over sun. I found the climb difficult the roaring river; and mutterings that day but it was all worthwhile. of "I'm never going tramping again if I survive this" all After refreshments we climbed came back to me. Oh well, at over Maungahuka, along and down least my pack wouldn't weigh Meat Safe Spur to the bushline, 601bs. then straight down to the upper waters of Tarahunga Stream. Being a 'Mystery Trip' we were I enjoyed the boulder hopping only fed information by Brian down the stream, even though as the trip progressed. So I did slip on occasions into on a star-lit Friday night we cold waters. I wished I had arrived at Otaki Forks and like longer legs when trying to leap a good FE I stepped it out with over rocks round small waterfalls. 12 others to The Plateau. Brian was quite right what was I Arrival at the Hector River and our worrying about? campsite for the night was made by 6.00 pm. By the time number 13 clocked in (guess who?), the Saturday morning at about 7.15am flies were up and a stew "Michael's we set off at a brisk pace, marched Special", was bubbling merrily 2700' up a bush covered ridge, on the fire. The aroma made down a steep slope, the lower the taste buds work overtime. . part of it in scree, to Otaki As we enjoyed our meal huddled Gorge near Aokaporangi Creek around the fire, we observed Forks. So far so good! We unusual clouds and wondered if were then directed up the picturthis was an ominous sign. esque Aokap Creek where some

During the night strong winds my feet, and with the help of blew up and the flies flapped Brian, Dennis and Owen who so vigorously and made the occasional kindly stayed back, eventually pistol cracking sound which was made it to the other side. enough to wake the heaviest sleeper. At Powell Hut we enjoyed a brew Next morning at 7 am we headed before walking out and unbelievably catching the bus ! Back in down the Hector River to the Wellington I could climb Forks. We carefully watched hardly out of it. I had seized our step on the very slippery during the ride. up rocks as nobody felt like a swim yet! The strong wind was cool Surprisingly enough I was and it overcast. We made the walk home managed our way to the Waiohine and the after unsuccessfully up Ngaio Gorge wind there was so violent that ring Malcolm to cadge a lift. trying to a few people were blown over and the water from the river's surface was swept up, creating It took two days before I could little whirls'. We crossed walk and sit normally again. My the river a couple of times before astonished 'work mates' kept saying beginning our climb of about "And you do that for pleasure. 2500' to High Ridge and Flaxy Why?" Why indeed? My reasons Knob. I experienced no problems for enjoying tramping would fill with this climb and really enjoyed a book. it. R.M. Emerson, an American poet, At the top we had a short break essayist and philosopher, wrote before proceeding along the Ridge in 1860 towards the track down to Powell "The influence of fine scenery, Hut. It was quite some distance the presence of mountains and by 1 pm I was starving. appeases our irritations and Before leaving the bush some elevates our friendships" of us had a quick lunch, so quick in fact I think my hardboiled Obviously I was not fit enough egg went down whole. for my one and only FE, but still enjoyed it. It was a well led Then it was out into the open trip and I'm truly sorry for to complete the remainder of holding up our patient leader the Ridge. Here it was 'all and his followers at times. on' as we were severely battered Sadly for me, it is unlikely by gale force winds which slowed another FE will ever be undertaken; the party up, especially the good news however for the Club's not so fit. future FE leaders. At one stage, reduced to a crawl, On the trip: I admired at close range the Brian Hunt (leader), Anthony numerous alpine flowers 'nodding Holland, Dave Chandler, Claire their heads in sprightly dance' Douglas, Dale Parsons, Michael and marvelled that they still Hollis, Dennis Gazley, Owen Cox, had heads left to nod. When Martin Green, Glen Turner, Greg Brian reminded me we had a bus Aimer, Bruce Barnes, Grant Hillyer to catch I got quickly back onto and me. a "I think," said Christopher Robin, "that we ought to eat all our provisions now, so that we won't have so much to carry." A.A. Milne