This text was read by OCR from a scanned newsletter and has not been proofread yet, so expect odd characters and mistakes.
BLACKWATER -— WAIOPEHU (Oct 5-7) - Murray Worsop We were warned about this trip, the time it would take going up Blackwater Stream and the grovelling at the top. We were determined, however, that at least we would not misplace Christine as had occurred on her previous trip. , The signs were right at the start; Priday night, the bus only five minutes late, a half-moonlit starry night, pine needle-cushioned campsite under pines at the road-end, and the nearby presence of army territorials (men!) to excite our Trip Leader. But in the morning, mist, and within minutes of leaving Ohau Hut three members of the party quickly sensing the direction of civilisation (or was it the soldiers?) were off down the Ohau River, at least'80° in the wrong direction. They were quickly retrieved and the slipping and slithering on Blackwater boulders, commenced -— the footwork and the balancing was superb, only two fell in. And in the a i 4
and witheut hér glasses, coulda’ someone who shall remain. -nameléss, be forgiven for mistaking a fantail ?for a long-tailed. cuckoo! o We tried matching thin blue lines on the map with trickles of water down hillsides to measure our progress. However, progress was much more rapid ‘than our maps {and Paul Hughes } led us to believe (or was it that the stream was shorter} and not sons after lunch we arrived at the first fork at the top of the Blackwater and sighted ur on tne skyline, & saddle not far from Waiopehu Ht. Completion of the day's tramping then became a mere formality. First a short, sharp battle with “cutty" grass, up the right fork. What sadist planned this trip I askec myself as I left a trail of blood on boulders for the rest to follow = even my.rose failed to escape unscathed. At the end of this brief spell of tortue was the second fork, and a compags bearing up ‘the spur took us quickly and directly to the door of the waiopehu Hut toilet. This was at 3.30pm, so much for warnings. about timing. poe Our beloved Trip Leader. contributed: ‘to the major entertainment of the evening when half our tea slithered into the fire. It was not really her fault; a slight case of overloading and the billy rack collapsed. The weather was only marginaliy better on Sunda vy ~ Saturday afternoon rain had eased: off leaving mist. ‘“e therefore quickly passed over the suggestion of a quick trip up to Waionehu, hay in bed until at least lOam, and took a leisurely stroli out to meet the. bus {nearly on time} at 3pm, ; 7 It was a véry satisfying and well led trip. Contributing to the enjoyment. of the weekend were the people present, who were: , Megan Rodéen (Trip Leader), Sue Charles, christine Roberts, _ Glynis Woodrew, Doris Lampart, Michael Bibby, Graham Hawthorne, Jacqui Lynch and Murray ‘orsop.
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