My First Trip to Mount Hector

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MY FIRST TRIP TO MOUNT HECTOR Ben O'Brien Hello, mynameis BenO'Brien. Notlong tramping friends to see after I had my first birthday I started the cross on Mt Hector. going on thel WT&MC Sunday Trips with By the time we had people like Karin Boswell, Neil Carey, climbed up behind the Dave and Dot Catchpole, Ollie and hut, the mist was Georgie. Ofcourse I couldn't walk very starting to come over far then, SO most of the time my Dad really fast which made carried me on top off his pack. it a lot colder, but not quite cold enough to W hen I was six I did my first put on our storm gear. overnight trip in the Tararuas, tol FieldHut. Aftert that Dadandlwent tup We went downhill for a MountHoldsworth, stayingovernightat while and then up, and Powell Hut. Just before It turned seven, up, and even up some wer went to. Jumbol Hutt for ther night and more. We couldn't see over thet tops to Mount Holdsworth and anything and Dad let Powell ther next day. Iwas gettingpretty me go in the lead SO fit. That was an exciting weekend for that Icould pretend to me, but what I really want to tell you be the first one to about is my trip up Mount Hector. conquer the mountain. Suddenly we came A few days after I had my seventh upon a big wooden birthday, Dad: said he wouldtake met to cross. We sat theret for see the cross on Mount Hector as: soon awhile with ourt friends as the weather was right for it, which and everyone took was onlyafewd daysl later. Itwas nearly photos of each other. the end of summer. Wer made an early Dadreadout what was start on the Saturday to go to Otaki on the brass plate Forks, which meant I had to eat my beneath the cross, breakfast whilel Dady was driving. Ittook something about US two and a half hours to get to Field trampers and a war; I Hut. Two other WT&MC people arrived didn'treallyunderstand while we were having lunch, SO we all it all. The older man went up to Kime together Sometimes withuspointedtosome The cross on Mt Hector Don O'Brien Iran on ahead, it was a nice warm day beehives but allicould andlhadlots ofenergy afterlunch. Dad see wasmist. Weheadedback downhill went to sleep quite early that night, it reckoned I was a bit slow going up to towards Kime but then started climbing hadbeenalongday andlwashappyto Field but now had my second wind. up again. Ithought wel had done all the have been part of it. When I went climbing. My legs began to feel as outsidenextr morningther mist was even We went over the new bit of track on though they didn'twantt to carry me any thicker and the wind was strong and TableTop, andtheTararuaPeakslooked further, but I knew we weren't far from cold. By the time my toast was ready, reallyclose. IsaidtoDadthaty we: should the hut and the other people with US some people were already packed and go over there once we got to Hector, also seemed to be getting very tired. ready to leave, but Dad was in no hurry becausel Ihad plenty of energy left, but and like to take my time eating. he said that the Peaks would have to Iwas really glad when we got to thet top waitt untillwas quite abit older because of the last hill, I could just faintly see The mist was with US nearly all the way itv was alott further, steeper, andl bigger Kime Hut through the mist. When we backt to Field Hut. We: sat outside eating thanitlookedfrom: wherewev were.. Just arrived therel Ilay! back on thel bunk for apile oftomato sandwiches with all the as we got to Kime Hut a great gust of a while to get my energy back. Some people wel hadmett the day! before; they mist swirled up out of nowhere and other people had arrived at the hut seemed like old friends. We all said almost blocked out all the views. Dad while we were away. Everyone sat goodbye and they headed off to Otaki said he didn't trust the weather to stay around cooking tea and talking about Forks. We hadt thel hutto ourselves, just fine and that if we were going to go up tramping. They were all alot older than me and Dad and the mountains. We Hector wel had better gos shortly andnot me but I enjoyed being part of this wandered down through thel bush, the int ther morning ashehadplannedto do. friendly group. Itold Dad the toilet had late afternoon sun shining through the disappearedinther mist, andhesaidnot trees. Iwas al bit sad to be leaving the Dad unpacked our gear and had a cup totryandfindite onmy own, in caselgot hills behind, but I also knew we could oft teat then wel headed off with our new lost out there. not stay. TRAMPING & MOUNTAINEERING