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ae The Friday before Labour Weekend was foul, and the sanity of everyone going tramping that evening is to be questioned. The ferry crossing was rough, hurling food and glasses about like high-velocity missiles. ‘Gerard was sitting innocently at a table in the cafeteria when the boat hit a big wave, “firing his bowl of soup off the table and all over him. A steward saw only the results and rushed to Gerard's aid thinking he had been sick (the consistency of ferry food?) Arriving at Picton sometime after 11.00pm, we discovered we needed a driver's licence to rent the van. My own seemed to be the only one on the Medium trip and everyone was subjected to some North-American-style driving. Our intrepid leader ~ had no map of the route into Mt. Richmond State Forest Park,. but thanks to the Easy trip's navigation, we found our way. ‘A campsite was located beside a stream eventually, to the relief of all of us. The Saturday morning was warm and the sky clearing. The ~) “Easies" were delivered to the Lake Chalice track, then we waited for Murray to pack and were away. A beautiful drive along the Wairau river and over Patriarch Station took us to the confluence of the Wairau and Goulter rivers.. Up the Goulter, the road became: a bit rugged. Warren, driving the "a *3 es econd van, was in favour of walking the rough road, but I've ‘ ays enjoyed a challenge and drove on.
) \ nt the road end, we found the track which followed the river VR its valley. Sunshine was interspersed with snow flurries and the air changed temperature quickly. There was a short meraing tea stop at the Lower Goulter hut, which has a doghouse outside. Murray had a dog dish for his food for the weekend, and was photographed in the doghouse with the bowl : (great entertainment). For lunch, we chose a sunny spot on .. the track. A heavy snowfall brought out psychedelic rain “ gear and we continued, laughing at each other.
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The Goulter map guide said it was three hours from the Midoulter hut, our next stop, to Lake Chalice. However, ‘the Sign behind the hut said five hours, and as it was already © mid-afternoon, we decided to camp at the junction of Old Man and Lake Chalice tracks, about two hours beyond the hut. The - beech forest was lush and green, and the birds had plenty to say in spite of the strange weather. ; . cAt the track junction, a small, mossy campsite was shown us _by Warren. There was room for only 3 tents at the main site, So the "bachelors" (Warren, Rob, Rob and Alan) camped across eee/2
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the river. There was lasagne for tea, which EVERYONE helped to cook over the camp fire. Another heavy snowfall arrived tust in time to make us feel like Eskimos as we ate! The picturesque campsite was right beside the river, and we all enjoyed the poetic twilight. We got up early enough to complain about turning our watches back, but the sun was up and the sky was clear. rost on the tents from the cool night melted’ quickly thouch. a ae Further along the track, we met the "Easies" (only in name, to the disappointment of some) and they told us of the shower in the Lake Chalice hut?!?!! The sunshine made the forest and river :look its very best. I was slowed considerably because I couldn: t. step taking photos. We all met again at the lower end of Lake Chalice, deep in the valley . and almost as rich a green as the forest around it. _ Although a camp~ site was found along the western side cf the Lake Tost of us voted to go on to the hut for a lazy afternoon. Lake Chalice hut had bunks for 8. and a lovely fizeplabs and wood ee stove. Also, to everyone's surprise, it had a4 shower and wood-fired ° hot water tank. This caused some major water fights, and when Alex get hold of my water pistol, I regretted ; ever having thought of it! The: bachelors again chose a campsite away from the hut and the Madding _. crowds. The Hut was--on. the side of a big shingle:flat. beside the Lake, and. the. bachelors' camp was beicw the hut, sheltered from winds but I perfect” for watching romantic. sunsets over the iake, Warren; Alan and Rob. took the. afterncon to, head West up Chalice Knob, a ‘5000+: footer from which they covid see for miles. The. rest of us spent. the afternoon’ annoying cne enother and .admiring the view from the -doorless loo. _A brilliant full mocn rose abeve Mt. Richmond and brought: ‘a Werewolf (or was that. Alex?) howling-. from the hut... Another chilly night made’ us feel sorry for the bachelors’and Murray, sleeping: outside, We:were ewakened by the. erashing of..the tea billy, and a privileged few were served breakfast in bed.-.As the sun rose, a bit after 7.00am we were. away: up the hill .toward the Tau, and Mt. Patriarch. ; sae ; a The track follows an old road up to the top of the ridge and Lake Chalice carpark, where Elearior and Ian left us to walk out on the road. The morning sun made thé worlé look glorious’ as we continued south along the road at the top of the ridge. Lake Chalice appeared painted, from above, and-emeratd green.:: From the morning tea stop at Upper Chalice hut .(3 bunks:) -we could see along. the Wairau valley and down to Lake Chalice. Tapuaenuky and the: Inland Kaikouras were glistening and snowy to the east, as were 'the .ranges to the west. ; Further along, one of the bachelors was surprised’ by several trampers, standing in the middle of thé road with his shorts around his knees. I Never a dull moment! We stopped in the hot sun at.the end of the road, for a brief lunch and’more views of the valleys bélow. ‘Rugged rocks = from the top ‘of’ the ridge to the summit of ,Patriarch. required extra time and concentration. For many of us, the suspense of. scrambling over’ Yécks was lightened by a Pontnered companion. .A loné Kea observed us ‘crazy people with great interest, and followed us for. some time. He sized up our packs and mace what I thoucht was more intelligent conversation than many trampers. The summit: of Patriarch was: achie ved, at least for més with great relief, only to find that the rest cof the party had vanished below the I rocks on the southern ridge. Murray hurried” me on, but I had doubts I about reaching the vans in time for the ferry. The rest. of the party had found the track and arrived at the/vans, where. the Easy. trip was waiting. Someone noticed the absence of Murray and myself but there wasn't time to wait.’ Robert Fox ahd Alan were elected to remain,. and everyone produced: Food for their auluenpated wait. Less than an hour remained before ‘the last ferry sailing of the day. Warren had taken one van ahead’ and fetched Eleanor and. Ian, so everyone ‘else: piled into the other van and Alan drove; the Cannonball . Run to the ferry. I: believe the 1% hour. trip was done in half the time! Alan was later ‘to say he stopped at the ferry, -terminal and turned archnd to say goodbye to everyone ,iJkhey were gone and on the boat!:i" A mixup as to the whereabouts of the group ferry ticket left all these people 2/3 se with no ticket.: Someone with great presence of mind, spoke to. the stunned Stews! at the rising gangplank, and said they were on a group ticket which was: "upstairs 'with the rest" of them: : So most of us returned to: Wellington. . Meanwhile, Alan had Potente to Nes enon a the waiting Rob. ‘They camped. near the vans and by 11.30am Tuesday still had not seen Murray and myself. . : J Unbeknown’ to the civilized world, we had not found the fk (which had turned out to be difficult anyway) and had begun through the bush toward the road, following a stream. .By dark, we had not reached the road, and were forced to camp that night. ae Luckily, as Alan and Rob drove’ out toward the ferry Tuesday morning, they met us as we found the road. ‘All was well and we four relieved people reached the 2.20 sailing Tuesday. Contrary to popular belief, the trip was extended involuntarily. For several of us though, the necessity of notifying Club Search and Rescue contacts.on our arrival in Picton was emphasised. If we hadn't got out within a specified time, the local Search and Rescue would have had to contact the Club before they could do anything. In spite of all this a eps oats weekend was enjoyed by fu. Those participating were: Murray Worsop (late minute substitute trip léader), Kate Thomas, Alex Gray, Janine Tooley, Gerard Galvin, Helen Toms, Ian Cave, Eleanor Branden, Alan Mountford, Warren Thorburn, Robert Fox, & RELeGe Whitla.