This text was read by OCR from a scanned newsletter and has not been proofread yet, so expect odd characters and mistakes.
_ Peter Hodge Our arrival at Powell Hut, at approximstely 11.30nm was preceded by the usual grovel up from Holdsworth Lodge, Above the bush we stood upon the rock outcror, illuminated in the clear moonlight. The snow was hard and the looming tops plastered with Lt, ari those who hadn't brought crampons were heard cursing. We arrived at Powell Fut, unpacked our gear, crashed and then met oblivion! Bulk .snow and sun on Saturday morming, We left early, wandering up onto Holdsworth, accompanied by the despondent F.5, "ake Yemnelly). The snow was deep with 3, brittle crust, so sten-plugging was the order of the day. Not Long after descending from Holdsworth, we found ourselves ascending to Jumbo, with 2 little bit inbetween. it Jumbo tarn we departed company with Mike who had decided to wait for the rest of his trip to show. "From Angle Knot we had an epic view, #gmont, Ruapehu and Tapuaenuku were clearly visible on the horizon. The Main Range stretched away south to Fector, glistering white in the sun. Girdlestone looked absolutely incredible. ; _ We dropned off Angle Knob, sidled and then sped down McGregor Spur towards the bush. We had lunch at the Riv before continuing on down to the Waiohine., dust up from Dorset Creek we encountered a deep pool The whimps who couldn't take the cold water bashed up and around high above the river while the reat -cf the trip bravely swam the pool. A bite to eat at Park Forks before heading up Dorset Ridge, to Dorset Ridge Hut. Pive Hutt Valleys were encamped within the Hut. Guess who immediately . grabbed the last bunk? Andrew dcouble-bunked with him, while the rest of us slept on the floor, reclining on masses of snow-foam kindly donated by conscience-stricken Butt Valleys and others. Sunday was an even earlier start than Saturday. Ye strolled along sonset Ridge past the tarn, Things became interesting going up and over Pinnacle, and onto Girdlestone (Incidentliy the Hutt Valleys siddled Pinnacle the day before). Great views on Girdlestone followed by a erind over the Kings. lIunch on South. King, before dropping down off Baldy inte the ttiwhakatu. In cur haste to zet out to the bus at Holdsworth, we raced out, reaching the roadend over hnalf~an-~hour before the bus arrived. All : agreed thet the weekend affair had been reslly enjoyable. . Those on the trip: Greg Ord, Mark Nelson, Ross Wakelin, Andrew Paske, pb Peter Hodge (seribe).