The A-Team on Wombat Patrol

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.

Wombat Patrol - Claire Silcock to go, we began the trek up Speargrass Creek to the saddle on Robert Ridge. We were intrigued by the progress of another group of trampers in full stormgear who had obviously chosen a questionable route to the saddle. If they had designs on Angelus Hut they were to be bitterly disappointed; Lake Angelus through the mist. The "the team" clambered into the hut (10 next hour and half saw us deep in minutes ahead of them) and ensconced concentration perfecting the art of itself in all the vacant bunks. Our boulder-hopping, and tearing down a leader, curious as to this other scree slope to Hopeless Creek. A group's route-finding, asked them why fall on the scree by yours truly they'd chosen that particular route. provided some light entertainment for They replied indignantly that they those watching from below. wanted to have a look at the tarn!?! Arriving at Hopeless Creek Hut for Bellies full and Walkmans blasting, we lunch we warmed ourselves in front of elected to embark on a Tiki Tour of the fire and looked enviously at the ridge overlooking Lake Rotoroa, Murray, spread out on a bunk stacking which we appropriately renamed Kodak z's. At this point our brave trip Ridge. The views were magnificent leader informed us that we were to and after the usual posed shots and disrupt our routine thus far and "This is me on : shots, a splinter actually move on after lunch - shock, group hell-bent on body punishment horror! The announcement was met took "the long way home" Geoff and with grimaces and whines, and worried Rohan (alias Ace Wombat Spotter, and glances out the window at the steadily Assistant Wombat Spotter respectively) falling rain. headed off to make an assault on the summit of Mt Angelus and back to the A wander through the beech forest with hut before sunset. Arriving back at a slight diversion down the stream, as Lake Angelus we were surprised to see opposed to the well-marked track, that by a mini-city had been erected on several members of the party brought the lakeside in our absence. It us into the Travers Valley where we seems that we weren't the only ones set up camp in competition with the trying to get away from it all this local sandfly population. At this weekend. point a member of the party (who will remain nameless) discovered that Dimp At dinner Fiona stunned us all with applied to the eyes was most effective, her orange longjohns - what a sight as it caused So much pain and disfor sore eyes! All thoughts of comfort that you didn't notice the comet-gazing early Sunday morning were little beasties biting the rest of the dashed due to heavy clouds which body. brought with them a little snow. Sunday dawned icy and overcast and we We were allowed to sleep in next were soon plodding our way up to morning, and breakfast entertainment Sunset Saddle (renamed Kodak Saddle), consisted of watching a procession of where we caught fleeting glimpses of miserable looking school kids parading by. Our assurances of "Smile, it can't be that bad," were met with disbelieving stares. By 10 we were packed and ready to embark on the stroll down the Travers Valley to our lunch destination - Lake Head Hut. Geoff and Rohan engaged in some more wombat-spotting along the way and we had periodic stops for some more posed photographs. The wander from Lake Head Hut around the shores of Lake Rotoiti to Kerr Bay was an enjoyable way to end a great trip. Team members: Jack McConchie, Anne Greenwood, Geoff Crockford, Claire Silcock, Fiona Nielson, Robert Haig, Alex Gray, Janine Tooley, Murray MacRae, Anita Catchpole, Rohan Campsite, Lake Angelus Jack McConchie Harrigan, Gerrard Galvin, Helen Toms, Mark Galvin.