This text was read by OCR from a scanned newsletter and has not been proofread yet, so expect odd characters and mistakes.
This is a story about a clu: tr’p that was scheduled as a Winter Southern but due to unforescen circumstences turned out to be a Neill~winchcombe -- some say *hat 2 Neill-—Winchcombe is the harder version of a Southern anywéy. . : = After a combi ride into the Forks and a hea stretch up to Fields, Friday night was had with sone sleep to the accompaniment of heavy squalls of rain and hail showers. - > i By mid-morning we were all ruddled in Kime for a quick brew, some— thing to eat and the donning of full storm gear. At this stage, it was cold with.a méderately stiff westerly breeze blowing. There was a good covering of scft snow too. ‘The cliab on to Hector was .pretty slow for some as ‘the wind was getting stronger and the fitness, or: lack of, was beginning to show. A few loud shouts between” the boys revealed that the Bechives were not recommended for playing:on with one of our number not having an ice exe (an essential piece of equipment for a winter Southern}. Soa Neill-winchcombe it was to be. A quick lunch at Winchcombe was ended abruptly when a hail shower told us it was time to move on over the numerous bumps to Neill and so down to Neill Forks Hut to arrive just on dark. To everyone's relief it was empty. With the help of Kev's, stew, everyone had a good nights sleep and was rearing to get up and go next — morning for the long haul to Kaitoke - weil some of us were anyway, After a late lunch at Tutuwai, it was decided that Kev should go 3 “ahead and try to hold the bus until 5pm as our travel was becoming slower and slower. Anyway, after 9+ hours, we were all huddled in the, shelter waiting for various forms of transport to get us back home. st My thanks for an invigorating trip Tim and thankyou Kev and Barbara for getting Mike and myself back to Wellington in good time. _ Those on trip: Tim Breuer, Kev Thompson, Alan Morrison, Mike Kennelly, Brian Downie and Richard Thum, .