This text was read by OCR from a scanned newsletter and has not been proofread yet, so expect odd characters and mistakes.
SILVA TRIP - F.E. no. 2 (30 April - 1 May) - Paul Bolger
Cur land of intrepid navigators, watched only by "E.T. and our consciences" set off towards Otaki Forks. After narrowly beating the Easy Party ina road race, we decided wé were too tired to make it to the Plateau. We set up our fly on the edge of the farm-land. After rising next morning at an un-godly hour, we passed the other F.E.° group along the track, still in their pits. After arriving at the Plateau, we splashed down Plateau Stream and climbed 1000 ft. to the top of an un-named ridge. Slow progress along the top, then a drop into the Otaki. The Otaki was up, so we sidled up-stream and floated across together. ‘This brought us to Whatiuru Creek just as planned. After lunch we headed up the creek. Soon, having had to swim deep pools and pass our packs over rocks, we decided it would be easier to climb anto a spur. The first 200 ft. were a real grovel, with lawyer, supplejack, hookgrass and loose rocks. Once we reached the spur proper it was easier, although there was no track, It said on the instruction sheet "there may ovace/6
G Met pe an easier route than the obvious one", so we decided to head for Penn Creek hut without going over Yeates and McIntosh, With some difficulty we found a spur leading down from Pakihore Ridge to the hut. By now it was getting dark and we needed our torches. Everyone had flat batteries from the night. before. The spur was grotty anc the track ill-defined, so we found the way only with great difficulty. When we reached the bottom we found the hut occupied by a Varsity “work Earty", but the booze had already run out. We put‘up our fly and Chef Greq cooked the stew,. After a natter session Pete’and Faul moved out to the fly while Greg slept on the floor with the dog, and Brian double-bunked with-.Sue .Ensaw. For. unknown reasons he was pushed onto the floor during the night. After 12 hours on the track everyone slept in the next morning. We I decided F.E. stood for ‘Fairly Fasy' and ambled out with the Varsities, I ignoring our grid references, A lift in the van was bludged, so we rode out in comfort, only ducking when we passed the new Chief Guide, We got out to cries of abuse, and discovered everyone else had piked too. Those on the trip were: _ a ae Greg Ord, Peter Hodge, Brian Rowe, Paul Bolger, E.?.