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Perhaps it was a touch ef moonlight madness, the full beams falling through open tent flaps onto sleeping trampers; er was it the hot sun beating down en unprotected heads; that lead the Easter Easy Trip off the tracked highways ef Tongarir@ National Park, onto barren wastes, up mountains and through blood thirsty, unyielding scrub. Whatever the reason, the scheduled holiday stroll quickly became a medium trip. The trip began in comfort on soft messy ground, beneath the silver glow of the aforesaid moon. Strong morning sun, with assistance ‘from males using warm body fluids to writé names, melted the heavy ground frost. Not toe early we set eff along the track to Waihohonu Hut as scheduled, the ultimate destination -being Lower Tama Lake. Arriving at the hut mid-morning it was quite apparent that the day was to be a breeze, And.,s0 by a unanimous decision, this very obedient party agreed to ER take the long way round —- it was in fact a consensus —- a yf . northern route via Upper Tama Lake. 7 I \ We followed the Ketetahi Track for a short distance before
: pe Potcaving it at the bush edge to follow a broad ridge which Ae headed roughly northwest towards Ngauruhoe. The moonscape ‘ terrain was ruggedly spectacular, its dryness enhanced by the hot overhead sun. The only immediate signs of animal life were * eolourful grasshoppers strangely eut of place, but there was also recent evidence of deer (strange alse, we thought). By lunchtime our water supply was exhausted. What choice then did a trip leader ‘have but to drop several hundred metres over the side to fetch a billy of cool water from the Waihohenu Springs. The afternoon was longer and harder than expected and even Neil's spontaneous bursts of song became mere spasmodic. A spectacular view of Upper Tama Lake in mid afternoon was a welcome sight. The sun was finally beginning to drop beh#hd ' the walls of the natural amphitheatre enclesing Lower Tama Lake when we arrived at our campsite. The two tents nestled cosily amongst the tussock, at the edge of the lake bed, approximately 100 metres from the water itself. That night Neil's exhortation to all hang loose, was taken up by three of our moonstruck party; Jacqui, the pixie queen (she will wear that-hat), and her two consorts froliced gaily at. the edge of the glistening moonlit lake. Our objective for the:next day was to reach Mangatepopo Hut, the aim was to climb Ngauruhoe. We were not too disappointed fopaniey s73
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BS ore then t® awake to the sight of mist followed by clouds. Ever adventurous, and again forgetting that we were meant to be the Easy Trip, we turned off the main track and took a direct cross country route. The morning was actually easy, following dry stream beds before picking up the beginning of a now virtually nonexistent track marked on the older map. Compass bearings took us to the required point Back on the main track but only after a lovely 20 minute grevel down a thickly.bushed ridge which left only those with the traughest skin unscathed. (Jacqui now has a new nickname which I dare not repeat). The hut, just 40 minutes away, was full and out of water when we arrived but still the Mediums were pitching their tents on the exposédiflats next to it. The Easies, making one of their most sensible decisions of -the weekend, camped next to the stream below the hut. "LE 4, foe he age mee
I am not sure what looseness ‘waS goifig’ of amongst the fotir ‘males in the other tent that night but for the first time on the trip we wére not serenaded to sleep by Neil's singing. a cio pe bokeh : ba The heavy frost next morning provided the males with some more writing practice and entertainment for Jacqui and Marie. The sky was completely clear and excitment mounted (our handwriting was shaky) as we realised‘an ascent of Ngauruho¢g was possible. = ; ST, WATS ‘ And so: five of us (Neil -— bad back, and Tony were sensible enough to pass on this option) climbed Mt Ngauruhoe - thé ‘hard “way! ‘Once again-we t6ok the most direct route from the hut and up ae larva flow on the northwest face. Marie, on her. first tramp, and now climbing*~a réal mountain, must have been wondering what she --was doing up there — and so was I during the times we slipped and slithered in shallow scoria. But we overcame vertigo, doubts and fears to reach the top about noon. A magnificent panorama of the-Central North “Island-awdited us - Taupo and the Kaimanawas. (Dale couldn't see us waving!), Turangi, Tama Lakes, the Blue and Green’ lakes, (Egmont on the way up), “and so ons 9°) eo Going down-on a-:massive ashen elevator... just dig your heels:in-and away you go took less :than .3Qseminutes,;. The-day's: triumph was complete and-we arrived back at the campsite.on-a-high-which:for.some of us, lasted for. days. On this our last night Jacqui finally managed.:to win. the :Noddy award.:(slightly worse than being Waliy}; after..days-of mongpolisation by Dean. and. Pieter, two real naturals. _. i PNG, (Paige yi. see Sea lg rea tsg: pi weer ole peer : The final stroll ‘out.,along ‘the track:.to the Chateau-was rather an anti-climax after :-the previous days! (activities. . However; there:was.;to.be.some mild drama later whenethe Kaimanawaseparty. failed. to turn..up after a two:hour wait. We departed for Wellington in:-slightly:more subdued: fashion. .: +. 5 , Thosé lucky enough to bé on this trip of challenge ‘and’ excitémént (some have even been back for more!): Jacqui Cornwell, Déan Griffiths, Marie Nickel, Pieter Lokum, Tony Glowacki, Neil Carey, *Murray Worsop’ (Trip Léader).