This text was read by OCR from a scanned newsletter and has not been proofread yet, so expect odd characters and mistakes.
Paul Richardson and Malcolm Fisher headed downto South Westland again for their annual November pilgrimage, but the Gods’ must — have been very upset because, we didn't even see the sun’ TOD cme the first. seven days and spent five. of our elevén days in the
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LS r ort wy act -~ 3prone position. In Senex wors the weather was disgraceful. Qur route?: From Mahitahi Valley up onto the Bannock Brae Range to the western tributary of Greer Creek then down to the flat.and up *the -main'brench” (one day) . Two days later we : crossed: to: the western hran 1?ch of the unnamed creek draining Mt Butzbach; then spent fcur nights stuck on a rock face because Qf the: weather. Ths scutherly storms finally cleared and we: made our:escaps down tc the creek which involved numerous abseils and some serious xock climbing. Time was up by NOW, ; and the planned trip shot to bits. We weren't looking forward to the bash down the Mekawhio but it was easy and quite enjoyable. Malcolm said it was eésier than the Mahitahi. From our last: camp. at Greer “‘xeek it only took a few hours to get out. The Makawhic Valley is one of the least visited of all Westland Valleys. I'm not sure why this is so because we found the valley was goc:i trayel ‘a real pleasure compared with valleys like. the Wai tahal: .. Wet Sock a very hard route to get in and went, astray scmewnhe: =uh we know the right route now and we'll.sibe going back once our memory of the horrible weather has: dammed. pe During hes same week (io-22 November) Tony Gazley, Bill Drake, Rudi Katz and Monica Comerisch (from Austria) flew into the © Murchison Valiey and spent 2 week ski touring while based at the new Alpine, Club hit. spent three days hut-bound by . the storm which dumped a «= snow, but for the remainder of the time, weather*and ski corditions were excellent. They spent seven nights at Murchison Hut and one at Tasman Saddle. Fhey. skied out down. the Tasman. Tony really enthused about the trip and suggested some of you tow skiers ought bo. fee” i ee sure sounds better than tramping in the rain.