This text was read by OCR from a scanned newsletter and has not been proofread yet, so expect odd characters and mistakes.
19,.30pm at Rangipo Power Station and the “Pit ‘trip stunbis from the warmth «wf a refrigerated bus into the arctie air. That night we camped on the ‘road sane we woke ta thaw out boots, parka etc. ; /3 a a at co ae pa a . Tay bese a oT *
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The whole trip managed to cross a sinall stream except Mattes, who went I swimming. Using limbo dancing, gymnastics and army assault course skills we moved over, along, round, under and through hundreds of fallen beech trees. Eventually we emerged onto the tops in perfect weather. Superb views of Ruapehu, Ngauranoe and Taupo sparked Kodachrome Fever. We stopped for lunch aiong the Umukarikari Range and were passed by a group of Hutt Valley trampers; one of whom carried a spare boot. By early afternoon we found ourselves looking down on Waipakihi Hut. Some raced down to get a hunk while others listened to the Test ona Hutt Valley trannie. At the Hut we argued with the H.V.'s over bunk space and cooked up spaghettibog. The Medium Party straggled in joining the crowd. Eventually the real mer Mike, Pete, Gary and Paul slept in tents, while the other wimps stayed indoors. The morning was fine, clear and freezing. Gary had to empty his billy ~ with an ice axe and Paul's camera froze up. Everyone warmed up by racing to the top of Te Raketuanciangi and along the Middle Range. Three shots were heard, and we guessed the F.E.'s were slaughtering the local wild-. life. After a quick game of ice hockey on a frozen tarn below Thunderbolt, we moved along and dropped down a spur to the Waipakihi valley. We set up camp in the trees by the river. After a Vesta meal, Ian produced a 21st birthday cake, , 7 Next morning, after Jim thawed his boots by a primus and Pete tried to put a tent in a billy bag we set off downstream. In accordance with his birthday wish, Ian was carried across the Waipakihi River by Pete and Gary. We then climbed a steep spur and travelled over to Urchin with the Medium Party. After a long break for photos we dropped down to the roadend for lunch. Then we walked out to the »ickup point and along the way looked at. the. Tongariro River flowing through the pillars of Hercules. We arrived at the pickup point and waited and waited.... Greg listened with his ear to the road while others scaled 4 grass bank using ice axes. Eventually the bus, arrived 50 mins. late and we set off to pick up the other trips. All in all it was a great weekend en joyed by everybody, with superb weather and scenery. : Those on the trip: Greg Ord: (leader), Michael Hollis, Peter Hodge, Gary Wood, Ian Wightwick, Matteo Serpi, Jim Robinson, Jamie Clelland, Bruce Taylor, Andrew Pask, Hamish McDougal, Paul Bolger (scribe).