This text was read by OCR from a scanned newsletter and has not been proofread yet, so expect odd characters and mistakes.
From the. pen of one that didn't and one that: should; forty-two intrepid souls arrived by various. means at Walls Whare for ‘a weekend of stimulating lectures and "invigorating" practical exercises, ~* 0 0 8 Saturday, already!)~6.30am and these ten- league boots pass on the way to that secluded brew-up spot, from which’; in double, quick. time the."anyone for a brew?" call was-heard>farandswide. Did» he use Napalm or. what?! After breakfast Jack McConchie gave the troops an excellent lecture on navigation.and map reading. It. will be interesting to see whether all those geological features, ridges, spurs, tops, gullies, streams and gorges can be related to those green and grey. splotches om, the map in. the future. After lunch the troops concentrated on the compass, ‘léarning about "orientating the map" and "bearings". Theory was followed by a practical”exercise, chasing paper cups -up.and down diabolically steep banks and through tangles of supple- Jacki: Sa. Bs, Jv . ae 7 et i Awakening ‘6nce again to the pound of "Ten League Boots" or..in.our case to the rebelious sounds of Ho-Hums intestinal instability (why use one small word when five can be fitted in?, Ed.). After breaking the troops assembled in two groups ffor-instruction in use of axes, firelighting/river crossing techniques. By 10 o'clock’ one half”of us knew how to light fires and the other half were F cold ana wet; by 12 o'clock it was “nil ali". After a quick..lunch and some. si serious paeking up aided by numerous plastic bags and freezer ties we were all off down-the Waiohine to practise what we had. all learnt. “Just to prove that instructors are not all great white gods, 6 foot plus Murray G@émonstrated how
A it isn't done and disappeared beyond his eyebrows. The less intrepid (and siorter) gasped in horror. Lesson one, don't follow the leader especially on an. instruction course. Before C.G. had a mass mutiny on his hands the slightly varnished GWG's found a better way, and the troops enjoyed a pleasant wander -Own the river. This provided ample oportunity to reinforce the morning's instruction. We would like to express our gratitude to the instructors for passing on their kncewledge, and in such an entertaining and down to earth way. Thanks to Ian Hadfield (Trip Leader), Jack McConchie (Navigation) and Chris satton, David Humm, Graham Hawthorne, James Clelland Q.S., and Murray MacRae for their instruction in axmanship, firelighting and river crossing. tt
Thanks Guys!! Julie Catchpole and Thingame.