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A record breaking Club Prip to the Kaimanawas was lead by Claire Douglas at Queen's Birthday weekend - the record was for the number of women, eight of the Medium Party of eleven (what great odds, what bliss:) The eleven hardy souls, plus all the rest, braved a long bus trip north wards. Fresh from an Offensive Driving Course, the driver provided the excitement - some dazzling displays of tailgating. But there was little warmth, the heaters workea oniy very occasionally, snow lay on the ground north of. Taihape, the windows iced up inside ~ was this a portent of the cold to come? : The roadené at. Rangipo Power Station was unfriendly, stony ground and not a tent site to be found - who chose this "campsite?" However the F.E. found .helter, the Fits “pitchec" tents on solic ground, the Easys squashed themgelves into a gx imy wooden hut - and the Mediums demonstrated their strength of character {or was it just plain idiocy?):; they slept out under the stars -- and awoke with ice on tne outside of their sleeping bags. The chilly dawn ushered in pright biue skies and warm sun, the pattern for the rest of the weekend. The first hurdle wes an easy river crossing but young Prue still managed tc fail in. ‘It was the first and last dunk-= ing for the weekend. . The uphill going through bush was also easy at first but then came the results of the devastating 1982 Easter storm. I Uprooted solid trees were still strewn across the track. There was lots of grovelling in the mud as we crawied and weaved our way through the > tangle of. trees - progress was slow. All the effort was most worthwhile however, just on lunch-time we fA
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“janhesiithe tops. ‘And’we came fact to face withthe fiaighi fieimee "ghee Tene TLEStenin eal vicw was breathtaking, the air was still, and the sun continued to ™ ina brightly, our Spirits soared,
: Following lunch, progress on the’ ~ 38 WAs good, aiong a well marked and poled track. -. “« . £¥ nal stage was. a deseent down ° icy slopes to the Waipakits Hut, in ae shade of the fast fading sun. The hut was full of Fits and ‘Hutt Eee OY Sy but thét didn't worry us. Once again we showed our’ “superior oriitude, all but two (the youngest ) slept in.-tents amongst the“ice. uk, bitter chill it was", brass monkeys wouldn't have stood a ‘chance. Ated froze in ‘billties while we ‘ate breakfast the next morning. ae? Second Spe ctacular day was spent: Tollowing the Waipakihi River, and <nvolved many crossings. The water wasn't very deep (most of the time But even crutch height on ‘our ‘Trip Leader) but it-was:- cold. ° Icicles Gung Laas from cliff faces, from rocks. and river banks, all shapes: and £1E8S ,~ were .a source of endless wonderment. In shady spots, powdered ce Liberally ccating snow’ tussock and trees, Created a fairy Janda. enchantiten:. f :
wi Vv es of sitting daround a roaring camp-fire after tea were dashed just as‘ ckly as the firewood iced over. We can honestiy Say that icy wood. s t burn weli. ‘That night with no warm hut: to store our boots in, ternative, to. frozen boots was to sleep with them. in our pits. Wet. ft in packs. or even in the ténts, was frozen in-the morning. (A! ve cry from Claire "How do. you put on frozen ‘puttees"). inal. dav wes another great one Gespite meeting another Hutt: Valley o ‘Saziv in the morning. The ascent to Urchin was-quickly
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ession was held at the summit. Prom then on; completion oF s a mere: formality although one group did its best to find a’ way to:descend. Marion had the most novel idea, she trieda I ac a
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Dey nae Giosdenh Janine Tooley, Karen O'Byrne, Barbara Johnsen, “.,atle Weddrow, Kay Schrader, Marion Griffiths, Simon -van Os, oye Hamilton, and Murray Worsop. (scribe). Janmy tnanks to Claire for taking over the leadership at the last moment, g Rast ait in recent times; the weather was superb despite the cold, the Jonnery. was at-‘Cimes awe inspiring, the company was convivial, and- <eren's feet survived I yet another ‘round of the inevitable blisters.