Sun, Snow and Couscous

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Sun, Snow and Couscous Andrew Sweet & Jon Parker A difficult to read signpost Jo McKenzie Can you imagine a weekend in the sweat, we hitt thet bushline and plunged Patea Range before turning our noses Ruahines with waist-deep fresh snow, into the snow that was to be the downwards again, and slip-slidingour hallmark of the trip. way down into the Kawhatau River blue skies for miles around, great Valley. views, and even greater company? We The snow was deep - about crotchdon'thavel to, COS we were there. (Yes, deep to be exact. While the toughies Quite by coincidence, the same (rather (or were theyi just stupid?) stayed in their soft and pathetic) people who stayed you should feel jealous.) shorts, most of US quickly donned-our in the wood shed on the first night expensive zip-up, button-down, velcro- seemed to get all of thel bunks in Crow off leggings. Hut. However, the dinner was great - 'he weekend got off to a slightly Peggy's massive Moroccan COUSCOUS erratic start as Eric, swerving the Arange of snowi traversing techniques meal is not to be missed - and the van in order to try and help lower New were used. Allen pioneered the "lie- frostbite suffered by those sleeping in Zealand's rabbit population, missed a on-your-belly-like-a-starfish-and- tents was only minimal Proof of the right-hand bend, and almost took out crawl" technique. Sue did the "think- quality of ther meal was provided by the the friendly farmer's gate. However, light-and-walk-delicately" shuffle. Ed, taller co-author who gulped down neither the rabbits nor the farmer onthe otherhand, adopted the "come- another two platefuls for breakfast. seemedto mind too much, and we got on-boys-let's-just-barge-through-it to Kawhatau Base in good time. approach. It must be said, however, The second day, funnily enough, was that no-one managed to beat the highly similar to the first: steep, steep, Most of US then spent a comfy Friday technique applied by the co-authors: steept hills, deep snow, perfect weather, night on a thawing bed of mud and the "lefs-hang-back-and-get-everyone and great views. We climbed up to cow whatsit. However, Allen, Sue, and -else-to-do-the-work" bludge. MacKinnon Hut and posed by a Mark (plus one or two others who shall sastrugi-covered sign before Allen led remainnameless because they paidus In the end, slow and tedious step- the charge off down the ridge to the off) set up in the wood shed with great plugging seemed to be the only option, hand-cranked cable car across the speed. and in the afternoon when everyone Kawhatau River that tookus back to the else was buggered, the intrepid CO- rental vans. Bright and early the next morning we authors were often seen to be valiantly started up the track. Yes, Ido mean up leading the way (hurrah!!). Topped off with (surprisingly good) - it was steep; very, very steep (our trip singing from Ed on the wayl home, this leader, Jo, led valiantly from the back). Regardless of which technique they was definitely one of the best trips of After a mere two hours walking, and used, our intrepid party of 12 managed the year. Fit trips in winter are the way an equal number of gallons of lost to traverse a fair amount of the Mokai to go. TRAMPING & MOUNTAINEERING