"Gidday Blokes... Dave's the Name!"

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"Gidday Blokes... Dave's the Name!" Don Goodhue A break in the bush gave us thei first glimpse of our objective. Immediately below us was the Leslie River and in the distance beyond the Karamea, rose Sandy Peak, a prominent feature on the eastern end of Garibaldi Ridge. The previous February, Eric and I had looked up at Garibaldi Ridge from the Karamea, and later on from Kimbell Spur. That had probably been the starting point for this trip. For me, the Kahurangi has a special attraction and this was my third visit in 12 months and the second in the last six weeks. e made an early start from Flora Saddle and trip up onto Garibaldi Ridge. We had looked at maps W were pleased with our progress which saw us and aerial photographs and from where we stood at reaching the bushline above the Leslie in just Karamea Bend, the most obvious route was straight up over fourl hours good going considering we were car- the spur opposite towards Sandy Peak. Our surplus food rying nine days' food. The day was warming up and was and gear was cached in the meat safe and we took only sure to get hotter as we descended into the Leslie. what we needed for a maximum of three days. After a quick lunch we were on our way again, thank- The first obstacle was the Karamea River itself I our ful to get into the shade of the bush. Not far above the experiences of the previous year had taught us not to Leslie River bridge we bumped into a couple of old codg- underestimate this river. Recent floods had dramatically ers making their way up the hill; they told us that they changed it so we headed up-river to cross at a point had beeni intol Leslie Clearing Hut to celebrate a cobber's recommended by thet fishing guide. We topped up with 50th birthday (along with about 40 others). They also water and headed for the bush. informed us that we might bump into the birthday boy From the Karamea the route climbs steeply through "Dave" somewhere near thel bridge. After they departed, open bush that eventually rolls off onto a narrow, scrubby we realised that we had met one of the old codgers the ridge. From a gap in the scrub we could see that the previous year at Leslie Clearing Hut when he appeared route to Sandy Peak would take us over a series of bumps out of thel bush with an armful of firewood (see Tramp- and rocky outcrops and eventually to the base of a rather ing and Mountaineering 1997). large bluff that formed a distinctive step on the ridge By thet time we reached the river we were both start- just below thel bushline. To the right, the ridge dropped ing to feel the effects of the heat SO we dumped our off vertically into the head of Questa Creek. A ground packs and put our feet up. "Gidday, " boomed a voice trail made route-finding up the ridge straightforward from the opposite side of the track. "Dave's the name.' enough, although a number of times we were reduced And so began an acquaintance with a character that was to crawling on hands and knees to make our way under to prove a lot of fun over the next week, as well as the and through the dense scrub. For a short stretch we downfall of a wayward Scotsman. It turned out that managed to find a cut track which we figured was prob- "Dave" was from over the hill in Pokororo and had ably the result of mineral exploration that had taken place choppered into Leslie Clearing to relive younger days of in the area some years earlier Aparti from the occasional tramping in the Leslie and Karamea. Now that the party interlude for photographs and drinks, the afternoon was was over and the rest of the punters had headed home, spent slowly making our way through the scrub towards Davel had got a leave pass from the "missus" and shipped the step on the ridge. her home on a chopper SO he could spend a few days The bluff before us was about 40m high and the best finding his roots. route from here appeared to be straight up. Off to the We eventually rolled into Karamea Bend Hut hot and right-hand-side it dropped straight into Questa Creek. tired, about 10 hours after setting out but pleased we We briefly discussed lour options and Iwas happy when had got this far as we, were now well placed to head up Eric offered to lead. After climbing about 20m he disapto Garibaldi Ridge the next day. A fishing guide and his peared for a few minutes and then reappeared out to client "Tom" were already in residence. "Tom" was the right, shuffling along a ledge with an overhang above. straight from the Board of the Chicago Stock Exchange Ifollowed him up and across a small gut onto the ledge and was probably older than Eric andl put together, but Eric had shuffled around. I began to wonder what the was having the time of his life out in the "New Zealand hell I was doing here reminiscent of a similar premountains", as he puti it. The "trails' = were good, as were dicament wel had got ourselves into the year before. After the "cabins" and the fishing was even better. The arrival a brief discussion, we decided that we would look for of the helicopter in the morning to whisk them back to an alternative route on the way back. civilisation reminded me that despite our 10-hour effort From here the route to thel bushline was easy and we the previous day, we were really only minutes from the were soon clear of the bush and onto a large terrace on rest of the world. the southern flank of Sandy Peak. One problem we had Edward and Ferrida were due to meet us a couple of considered on the way up was the possible lack of wadays later sO we had planned to fill in time with a side ter on the tops we hadn't seen any: since leaving the Tramping and Mountaineering 1998

The Silvermine Range Don Goodhue gear we hadl left behind was missing a fuel bottle and Within 5 minutes of arriving at Crow, we were on our pump, and a set of billies. A quick search in and around way back to Karamea Bend. I for one was pleased to the hut revealed nothing. Then... "Gidday blokes!" It have the gear back but at the same time, saddened that was Dave again. I blurted out something about thieving we ever had to retrieve it in the first place perhaps bastards and missing gear. "OK."( ("OK", "yep" or "right" it's a sign of the times. was Dave's answer to everything.) "Funny you should Not long after leaving Crow we met the "Yank", dismention this.' - By now we were on the edge of ours seats; tinguishable by the amount of junk hanging from his it was like pulling teeth, but slowly the story came out. pack. He waved from a distance; we shouted back about "There's your fuel, " said Dave, pointing to a plastic having to chase some thieving bastard up the river to bottle sitting on a shelf above the bench. Eric had a quick get our gear back. He probably got the message. We sniff it was white spirits all right. "Was here this made it back in time for the mountain radio call to find morning.. a Yank and a Scotsman were tipping fuel into Dave still sitting on the bunk where we had left him. this herel bottle,' he continued. "OK... Scotsman. red- "OK?" he asked. "Mission accomplished, = I said. band gumboots.. came from the (Roaring) Lion.. head- By comparison, the following seven days in the ing for Crow (Hut).. " Karamea were relaxed. We met up with Edward and That was all we needed to know and within a matter Ferrida on the Tuesday and spent the next few days exof minutes we were on our way to Crow. It was 3pm ploring the Leslie and Karamea rivers. We returned to and the sign said 4 hours, but we had to get to Crow Crow Hut at a more leisurely pace to find Dave in resiand back by 8pm to be in time for our mountain radio dence, and back at Leslie Clearing Hut a few days later, sched. Less than two hours later we were at Crow, hav- there he was holding court with a couple of Aussie ing chewed over our tactics on the way. We were in no trampers. mood for pleasantries. Edward hooked a fish, got excited, and lost it. We Eric walked into thel hut ahead of me. The first thingl wandered up Mt Peel, explored the Arthur Creek gold saw was the red-band gumboots and Eric was pointing workings, and generally had a perfectly wonderful time. to thel billies sitting on the bench, having recently been This more than made up for the red-band Scotsman. used. And when we walked out to Flora Saddle on the Sunday "Right you thieving bastard... " The rest is best left morning who should be sitting at the shelter? "Gidday unprinted but suffice to say it was very clear how we blokes.. decided it was time to get back to the missus!" felt about our unscheduled walk and the likely conse- We had surely met one of the real characters of the quences of their doing it again. hills. Thanks Dave. Tramping and Mountaineering 1998