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Brian wouldn't tell us where we were’ ‘going on this trip: His most telling indication was a whispered "western side" and "middle crossing" Kevin Griffiths’ kindly took us to. Otaki and we hiked up. “the road on the back of the local . -:> cockie's landrover. The night was fine and the fast boys were quickly up on the Plateau camped for the night. The flies were up when we arrived but we just slept under the stars and a full moon that wouldn't go away. After an early start we plodded up a spur to a bush covered ridge 2700' which dropped back down to the Otaki gorge near Aokaporangi Creek forks. .Some of us slid successfully down the scree slope but i had an uncontrollable bomb out on the way down and ended up slightly worse for wear, It:.was still only 9 o'clock and we.could see’ that the main range was to, come! Brian remained tight-lipped but pointed the way up i Aokap Creek - an obvious route! Travel up Aokap creek proved to be interesting and very enjoyable and included some ungraded bouldering problems at the beginning, ‘Taking the true left hand creek, Whatiuru 5 Seat
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Creek, we had stunning views of the Tararua peaks above, and we stopped. for lunch at the foot of a spur which leads directly to Maungahuka hut. Ah: "On to Maungahuka for afternoon tea!" said Brian. The fast and fit raced ahead to scale the Tararua peaks while the rest of us slowly pulled I ourselves up the ridge, through the open tussock slopes to Maungahuka tarn. No one was game to swim in the tarn even though the day was a good one.: The Peak Scalers got their summit (by ladder) and so after a big scrog-up, we puffed over Maungahuka and down Meat Safe spur to the bush edge where a 'direct route’ was taken into the upper waters of Tarahanga stream. This stream provided good clean travel but had a few little waterfalls to keep the interest up. By the time the back travellers reached our camp for the night in the Hector River it was nearly 6pm - a longish day.. A good sized fire was soon cranked up and Mike had the stew minders contrel in no time, however, as the stew was so tasty it may prove to be the last time that some come with small bowls! It was an early Pagnt and we woke « to light drizzle and high winds in the morning.. Heading off, the: river’ was: exceedingly slippery for awhile: bat we. soon got down to Hector forks. “Not finding the fabled trout that Brian boasted of we set off down stream for a'couple of bends and-up onto High Ridge. Crossing thé Waiohine' proved’ to bé an epic Rios Mike “and Grant who all byt blew away in’ the” tornedo-type gusts: ” a The route to. ‘Flaxy. -knob was fairly @irect and, Bape ae ecerian of the ‘south Face of. the Scree Slope! up:the.creek down from Hector Forks were’ recorded. However , it aid seem interminable travel along High: Ridge to Holdsworth and some of us., - began. to bitch..or..go: ta sleep!! The wind was howling above and the 'dash!. from: the. bushedge ta; ‘Powell hut ‘proved to.be,an: epic.-.-,Claire™ and Sue were firmly anchored by Dennis,.Brian and I-as we-dashed te Powell hut. i = So it was back onto a track and down the hill to the DUS cai Te Diet Ore Middle was solved at last... 2 tye a! : ae My thanks to Brian for arranging this fascinatdtey and "wortlwhile alps reminding us that the Tararua - Ranges: have. plenty es, ‘places WELDOUE, geracks and nice littié streams in which ‘to! wander . i ‘ 1 Trip Leader: Brian Hunt I ie - ial z Others uninformed: ° “Miké ‘Hollis,’ Anthony Holland; Dave Chandler, she i Dale Parsons, ‘Dennis Gazely;,* Owen Cox, Martin Green, ‘Glen tes: he Sue Charles, Grant Hillyer, ‘Bruce’ BaEDeBy Claire Douglas, , m=, Greg Aimer eoae)e ‘ —-"? rib