Hollis' Happy Holiday

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Another Happy Early Monday morning at Nelson airport saw the hard core of my trips together again - Sue, Malcolm, Warren and Peter, me of course, Alastair and Andrew on their second trip, and one new comer Geoff. Newmans took us to Springs Junction. In the early afternoon we donned packs and set off up the track to Lake Daniells. Before long we had turned up Pell Stream, and by 5.30 had found a beaut campsite. This would do for today. Dinner was prepared, our usual dehydrated fare. Then up with the flys and into the pits. It was great to be in the hills again. Tuesday began fine a bit cloudy but no wind. We crisscrossed Pell Stream, climbing rapidly. We scrambled around a bit of a gorge on the true right. Eventually we made it to the bushline and then to the saddle. A quick look over the other side created instant confusion. Instead of the head of the Glenroy we were looking at a deep valley and the river 'way down below the bushline. Out came the maps. The valley was Cannibal Gorge and away to the left the Ada Pass. We were about 500 metres too far East. A quick trip over a bump and there was the Buddha. ? Peter Jackson Glenroy. Just above the bushline we found a flat spot, fine for camping. A few spots of rain series of small terminal moraines. At 3 o'clock we convinced us to put up both tents and flys. But found a hut - too good to pass. The night was we need not have feared, no rain came. cold and for some reason Alistair put the radio aerial across the river. He crossed it again the The valley was filled with mist. Owen Cox with next morning to undo the aerial - some people friends appeared through the gloom. After an have strange ideas on how to begin the day. exchange of chit chat we headed off downstream. A gorge slowed us down, but eventually a track Friday was Peter's birthday. Out came the usual goodies - chocs, biscuits, etc. Peter had been warned about no more fireworks a reminder of a midnight awakening as several double happies exploded, in the Red Hills back in 1985. There are two passes from the East Matakitaki to the D'Urville. The shorter route is up a steep snow filled gully. The day before, a tramper had found it too icy. We chose the longer but easier pass further to the east. We found the footsteps of Bruce Taylor's party, but they were at least a day ahead. The trip over the pass was a delight. A sheltered tarn of deep blue was the lunch spot. On the pass a snow fight resulted in a draw after a few hits and lots of misses. Late in the day at the bushedge we found a campsite. I hit the pit took us to the Glenroy Forks. (For some reason feeling poorly. Geoff had lost the stirring spoon the rest of this day has gone from my mind.) But, and spent a couple of hours carving a new one. by late afternoon we had crossed the pass into the West Branch of the Matakitaki River. It took a day to get down the D'Urville. The signposts said 4 hours between huts but we took The track down the West Matakitaki was easy to 2 1/2. By 4 o'clock we reached Bull Stream follow. Soon we reached Bobs Hut. After a photo where we camped. Warren's back had been stop we crossed the flats to enter the bush again. playing up for a couple of days. I had had a By lunchtime we had reached the forks. The trip rotten day. We both thought of leaving the next up the east branch was interesting, crossing a day. But next day I was OK, and decided to go

Hollis Holly-day Michael Hollis out on the Lake Rotoroa Taxi. That taxi bought the consensus may be next year. The wind got our food, and took us across the lake to Sabine up a bit. Just and afternoon zephyr I said - will Hut. be gone by evening. That night was one of my worst in the hills - the tents and flys flapped all The food weighed us down a bit. A short night. I slept not. At dawn we all got up, packed afternoon took us to a campsite in the Sabine. our bags and descended to Upper Travers Hut for Next day we headed for Blue Lake. The weather breakfast. A lazy trip down the Travers took up was superb, and the views of Cupola, fantastic. the rest of the day. Blue Lake lived up to its name, deep blue with a green edge. Some of us dived in but not for long. Friday morning was grey. We raced to beat the Two Blue Ducks swam around us, complaining rain. Success was ours, and we had got through about our disturbance of their heaven. Our only the whole trip without ever putting our parkas rest day was spent at Blue Lake. Andrew on!!! Sue and Malcolm never did get to put their wandered off around Lake Constance. Others new Goretex parkas to the test!!! climbed the moraine, investigated the outlet, slept, did the washing, etc. We tried cooking on So, once again we had had a great trip. I found the hut stove a complete waste of time. that cycling all year was great for the heart and lungs. They never gave out. But there are thigh Our trip was nearly over. We had 2 1/2 days left. muscles which cycling does not exercise. For the In brilliant weather, we had climbed the Travers first part of the trip they screamed on the Saddle by lunchtime. Anne and John Opie, plus slightest touch. Next year I resolved to do some their two children were met half way up the tramping before the Xmas trip. saddle. The weather was fine and still. A tarn had been provided for a swim. "Let's stay", we all On the trip were Sue and Malcolm Charles, Peter agreed. A quick trip to Rainbow Pass was Jackson, Andrew Chisholm, Warren Thorburn, rewarded with a view of Molesworth country. Geoff Medland, Alastair Booth and Michael Hollis Might be suitable for a mountain bike trip was (Leader).

Mt Travers Peter Jackson