This text was read by OCR from a scanned newsletter and has not been proofread yet, so expect odd characters and mistakes.
HOLDSWORTH = JUMBO (Medium Trip) 18-20 May ‘= Peter Jackson Friday night began with everyone immediately taking up residence in ©: Holdsworth Lodge and no one particularly keen to set up camp at Donnelly ‘Flats due to oald wet windy weather. Saturday morning saw no improvement in conditions and at 8.25am all 12 of us set off through the drizzle. Our route, was via Gentle Annie track arriving at‘a vacant Mountain House around 10.00am.,. During the second stage the wind was stronger in the bush, Above the bushline we were greeted by increased wind velocity and fresh ~ snow. Crashing into Powell Hut at 11.05am an early lunch was on the cards, Later on, the cards were on the mattresses and the troops firmly entrenched and very determined to stay the night! We were closely fgllowed. by:the Easy Trip and soon sleeping space was at a premium. More washed and blow~ dried trampers arrived but soon vacated the hut as there was inea tage ent room for them all to bush down. Visibility had improved Sunday morning “put only briefly. The mist soon returned and remained with us for the rest of our time above the bushline. A small group of us set off for Mt Holdsworth, 5 determined to do the full trip. Wind was strong in places especially on Mt Holdsworth. Finally at 9.15am we parted company and after a couple of navigation. errors — one major and one minor 5 intrepid trampers. set off. into. more mist and snow bound for Jumbo. That took us 1 hrs with visibility averaging 30-40m. Time spent on Jumbo was brief, sufficient for a few photos and a snack. Wind so far had;a mere zephyr. Then into the full ' force of. the wind direct to Jumbo Hut, receiving a strong blasting from wind born..snow. Jumbo Hut was most welcome 4nd we were éven blessed with a brief.period of sunlight and blue sky. Shortly after we entered the bush arriving at Atiwhakatu river at 12.15pm.. Lunch hour was passed at Mid Atiwhakatu Hut. Out into the rain again arriving at Holdsworth Lodge about 3.50pm. , ' : a a Those on the trip were: -* Pete Te Riini, Peter Jackson (scribe & head Chef), John Sacth, : Bruce Smith, Sharon Fraser; Harry Smith, ‘Russell ‘Field, Fiona Neilson, Julian Harris, Prue Coakley, Andrew McDougall, Kevin Osten.