Climbers Col, Mt Cook (When I was young and in my prime)

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WHEN I WAS YOUNG AND IN MY PRIME. Two members of our club, Phil Gardner and days of bad weather and then we just Rob Jamieson, with Bert Hines (NZAC and managed to snatch Hicks (David's TTC) made up a party to the Hermitage area, Dome), 10,443, on a day of not quite over the Christmas of 1948. Below are some so bad weather and in spite of ice on extracts from a letter Phil wrote to the club, the rocks. First ascent since 1937. as printed in the February 1949 Journal: bad weather "Two more days "In the first week we crossed the including a spectacular electrical storm Copland Pass (7,400) to Douglas Rock back to the Hermitage. Bert and Hut and then went up to the West Rob decided not to stay longer as the Sefton Bivvy site. From there we peaks would be out of condition and climbed Sefton (10,359) by the usual went back home. That left me route round the head of the Tekano holding the baby. I managed to get Glacier and over the Douglas neve. another couple of blokes to join me The Unnamed Virgin (Hopkins they and climbed both Minarets (10,058 and had intended "reconnoitring" this) was 10,022), De la Beche (9,817"), Elie de obviously out of condition due to snow Beaumont (10,200) and Walter (9,507). on the rocks so we returned to the Then they went home. In the last Hermitage by the way we had come, couple of days I got in with a strong arriving just in time for New Year's party and climbed Malte Brun (10,421) Eve. Great show! and then back to the Hermitage." "The next week we went up to And then he ran in the Marathon! Gardiner Hut - in the Hooker Valley on an outcrop of rock at the foot February, 1949 of the West Ridge of Cook. Two

Nelson Lakes by Kate Thomas The Thursday evening of Easter weekend mixing up their four contact lenses and 1987 was the beginning of four days of then, eyeball to eyeball, saying how silly entertainment for the Gods. That is, five they were (they looked like a pair of couples departed by ferry for Nelson Lakes opossums). National Park and a weekend of silliness in the hills. Marion and Buncks, Glynis and In the morning I realised why I had agreed Neil, Judith and Murray, Megan and John, to this madness. The sky was clear blue and Murray and myself made up the party. and the hills nestled around the lake as if (And a party it was!) to say, "Come along, children, and play over here." So off we went, piled cosily Once on the ferry the boys decided to sit into the van, to the road end. Buncks' driving on deck in the sun while the girls went icebounced the back door of the van open and cream hunting below. Finding no icecream, we lost a pack. He was going so fast it the girls went to the cafeteria and relaxed took at least a kilometre to stop when the for a while. Lonely, the five boys went alarm was raised. looking for the girls who had gone up onto the deck, looking for the boys. Pursuing At the road end we unloaded, between long one another around the ship, much of the looks down the hill to Lake Rotoiti and up voyage was passed in good exercise. the hills to the lush bush. Buncks, Neil and John took the van to its parking place (other When we arrived in Picton, in the windy end of the track) while the rest of us paid darkness, the boys went bravely off into homage to the Sun God. Glynis began a the dark to find the van rental man (leaving habit that was to last the weekend - she us capable women with two packs each). fell asleep. Apparently the boys hadn't noticed the van rental man standing beside the van at the Reunited, we wandered off into the bush. kerbside about 20 metres from the girls! The sun filtered through the tops of the Yet again, the girls stood waiting for the trees and the birds serenaded us. People boys. kept stopping to remove clothing (claiming to be waiting for their spouses), while Neil Buncks chauffeured us to St Arnaud through went on ahead to find a lunch spot, not to the moonlight and the peaceful hills. When be seen again for some time. all the tents were unpacked, we found there was a tent per couple, except for Megan Buncks must have been bored, because he and John and Murray and I, who were to stopped and lit a fire beside the track. share. Megan and John entertained us by However, the majority were revelling in Mist-filled valley Kate Thomas