An Epic Mission

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AN EPIC MISSION Matthew Grainger Sometime in mid '93, in a moment of cord won't fix"), insanity, Iputr myname downi tol leadan we were on our S.K. alongt thel Tararuat tops att thee endof way. Once January' '94. Thist tripe essentially: follows againtheperfect Z Z the of an / L length the Tararuas, epic conditions mission even for a long weekend. As enabled US to theweekendinquestion. drewnearer, a makequicktime few people took the plunge and put along the tops their names down to go. and we had Z lunch by the tarns below he transport to the Putara Jumbo, with roadend on Friday night was an more fantastic epic in itself, with twelve people and views. eight packs (and a dog ! ?) crammed into a van with no seats; rather like a We reached mobile game ofTwister, arms and legs Powell Hut everywhere. We finally arrived at the around an hour roadendaroundmidnightandset. off by later, where we torchlight for Herepai Hut. It was a were welcomed pleasant nightfor walking, but we were by Graham, a glad to reach the hut and finally get to fellowTongue & sleep around 2am. Meat who was hut wardening With along day ahead of US, thel luxury there. We were of sleep was foregone for an early: start treatedtofreshly and we were on our way by 7:30am. baked camp We couldn't have asked for better oven bread and weather, with clear skies, bright jam (yum!) and sunshine, andagentlewindtokeepthe anicebrewthen temperaturesbearable. Goodprogress we were on our way to Totara Flats. oneweatherwise. (What? Three perfect was made in the morning and lunch daysi in ar rowi in the Tararuas?) Wel had was had on the ridge above Dundas By this time Peggy and Daniel were acomparatively easyday outtoKaitoke, Hut. The views were superb in all suffering from terrible boot/foot andthe walk down the valley was quick directions andlwas beginning to think problems. Peggy was downt to running and refreshing. thiswasn'tso crazy after all. After lunch shoes and Dan was wearing one boot we continued along the ridge to Arete and one sandal due to the discomfort. Ar munchy break was had at Cone Hut Bivvy, andontot ther newTarn Ridget Hut. This was slowing them down (mass scrogginfest) and lunch soon Itwasfiver verywearybodiest that arrived considerably andi they decided tol head after by the river below Tutuwai Hut. around 7pm. The other occupants in outtotheHoldsworh: carparkandhitch From here it was a quick stroll out to the hut were surprised when we told home from there. Chris, Gerard, andl Kaitoke, about 4pm. them we had come from Herepai that left them at the junction of the track to day, and more surprised when I told TotaraFlats. Thet tramp down to Totara Backto civilisation and ice creams after them we werel heading for Totara Flats Flats Hut was enjoyable, the pleasantly threet thoroughlyenjoyable, challenging, the next day. They thought we were cool valley making a nice change from andrewardingdaysinthehills, dispelling mad! the sun-drenched tops. any doubts about our sanity in attempting such a mission. The sense The long day and lack of sleep was Totara Flats wasreachedi dinsurprisingly of achievement was great, and overall starting to take its toll. That night, one quick time and before long we were couldn'thave askedfor abetter wayt to member ofthegroup (whos shallremain enjoyingahearty dinner. Therewasno spend a weekend. nameless) was SO tired, he fell asleep water at the hut, and ironically, having ont thel longdrop, onlyt to wake up: some tramped such a long way that day, the "Your next mission, should you decide time later and stagger back to thel hut. walk down to the river for some water to accept it seemed like a marathon. Somehow I The next day dawned fine and clear, ended up doing thel honours; such are similar tot the dayt before. Another early thei joys of leadership! The crazy ones: MatthewGrainger, start and after: some running repairs on Chris Collyns, Gerard Galvin, Daniel Peggy's boots ("nothing a bit of nylon The final day was once again a great Meares, & Peggy Christianson. TRAMPING & MOUNTAINEERING