This text was read by OCR from a scanned newsletter and has not been proofread yet, so expect odd characters and mistakes.
BOOK REVIEW 'River Crossing: Techniques for Young and Aged: Trampers' The book is a summary of techniques used to gain passage. down the length oe the Wengen River when above normal level. The trip started: off Saturday morning from Mitre Flats Hut, traversed Mitre, and descended to Dorset Creek via Dorset Ridge Hut. Having ‘lunched at the Forks with the Waiohine they set off down river with intermittent rain. The river was high and cold an essential ingredient on such ventures. It was not long before the Thompson Method of river-crossing was demonstrated, and Bruce was aghast - 'Brain Damage. ' he exclaimed... (The .. - Thompson Method has been now renamed 'The Braindamage Technique! '). This method is most useful. when you find yourself stranded midstream in a rapid on a lone. boulder. Young Paul had his own finely executed technique, known as the 'Raft Method', which requires you to behave like a floating log. This technique
LLLEED \ r
% up:
—— SS z}
Ss a Oe eater tl
er
%
+
was often used when other methods failed. Other more common techniques (thgugh no more reliable) were the stepping stone technique and the classical method. After a successful afternoon avoiding drowning, the happy team became ensconced in Mid-Waiohine Hut.
Next morning, 7 am saw the team venturing forth to chilly waters amid high shady walls. The Raft technique was used regularly and all were seen to use the Brain tamage Method on several occasions. In one long shady pool there were 3 reported iceberg sitings. Eventually, the team dragged itself ashore for lunch and a fire in the sun at 10,45, only ¥% hour from Totara Flats. Spirits soared and the team stayed in the River heading for Walls, until Bruce had the affrontary to ask for a rest (sheer insolence at best!). Well, we are only half an hour from Walls and it's not even. 2 o'clock: Bruce's-confrontation caused Kev,’ weakened by age to concede, SO a break was taken before finishing by voluntarily swimming the remaining pools -—. Have to admit that Kev only iio Tein bs oe to Swim . after he lost control. ** : oa i Public Health Warnings: These techniques shouta be. attempted nay SEY - by the insane as they may. be injurious to the health. A healthy tyre tube “isalso essential along with 'high?''spirits?'. On the trips Kev Thompson, Dave Wills, Bruce Wilson, Paul Greenwood.