This text was read by OCR from a scanned newsletter and has not been proofread yet, so expect odd characters and mistakes.
MOONLIGHTING - Ian Hadfield Tuesday the 26th July was atypical mic-winter week day. The sun was shining, the wind hiding, the snow covered Tararuas beckoning and I was working, I wished I could-bé out there.. Just then the phone rang and Jack like a fairy godmother invited me to join himn’on a moonlight’ Southern Crossing. I didn't need much persuasion. 8.00pm, ‘The team of McConchie, Woodrow, Barnes and Hadfield were dropped off at Otaki Forks by Glynis Woodrow. Moving steadily we . arrived at Field Hut et about 9.40pm and stopped for a snack, Sitting around we soon cooled off in the sub-zero temperature so it was off to Kime.. Expecting the usual muddy wade across Table Top we were pleasantly surprised to find the whole bog frozen solid. . We hit bulk snow ee climbing onto Dennan. Torches packed away and crampons donned, we continued. Kime was soon reached as we strolled along in perfect ecramponing conditions: Another snack and then it was onwards over Field Peak and up ‘onto Hector. The conditions at this stage, and all the rest of the way, were perfect. Hard packed snow and ice, a full moon, no clouds, no wind etc, The lights of Wellington, the Hutt Valley, Levin, Otaki, Masterton etc. were all around us. ~With this background Neil and Jack decided to try out all the Gizmos on I their OM-2's: Tripods, flashes, time exposures, standing still for a minute at a time. I hope they turn out. A cold 40 minutes later we were on our way again with an occasional stop to adjust rebellious crampons. Another snack stop at Alpha 2 hours later and we reluctantr . “ly left the tops. Hells gate and the climb onto Omega took’ its toll and was reflected in the slower pace along the Marchant Ridge: Our E.T.A. was starting to, look a little optimistic as we hurried along _ stopping only to replace torch batteries. Buncks was..waiting for us -. at Kaitoke but could only stay until 7.30am so Neil and Bruce somehow managed to race off ahead to catch him, Jack ané I continued to plod along--reaching Dobsons at dawn; we didn't stop and hurried on to Kaitoke. I was at the back at this stage but passed Jack. when he cut’ 22/2
a. across onto the new saddle track. (Running down the old 'Puffer' is a good 5 to 10 mins. quicker.) Arriving at the carpark at 7.40am, I was "glad" to see Buncks still waiting, holding 4 hot coffee and biscuits. Jack was hard on my heels and helped us knock off a bottle of wine. _Then it was off to town at high speed and back to work, Thanks to Glynis for taking us to Otaki and to Buncks for waiting, picking us up, coffee and wine. Next up is 2a moonlight SK ~ any takers?