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Ruahines Rage 29-31 Avgust Proloque 6: $Opm: A mass of cold, bedraggled, human beings is clustered in small groups at Wellington Railway Station, trying desparately to muster some enthusiasm for the ordeal ahead. Does this remind _you of Sry one Yes, you're right, those beings were anothex Tongue 'n' Meats squad, ready for a weekend trip into the Southern Ruehines, After a somewhat uneventful bus journey and a taney minute stroll along the dirt 1toad, the squad set up camp for the night. Morning saw Jack h--d off on a solo trip up Rosvall*s track, just as the Medium and the Fit trips were waking up. The Medium party (under the leadership of Murray Worsop} set off about 9:00 a.m. into the bright morning sunshine ready to poomuer the world (or hopefully the Rosvall's track anyway) ! ie a short walk up the Tukituki river, theyfound the desired track - leading up a spur into the bush. The initial grind was well worthwhile, as the Mediums found themselves travelling through some interesting bush, and obtaining scenic views across to Black Ridge along the way. However, all this time, unbeknown to the intrepid Mediums, one of their number had managed to.....GET HIS SOCKS WEHT!! Immediately, it was red alert - a major catastrophe, and all activity ground to a halt while the offending socks were thoroughly wrung out and replaced with dry ones. (The sock-man has asked for his name to be withheld until the full case has been heard.) Around midday (perhaps slightly after - who knows?) the brave and courageous Mediums reached. the 1285m point -. they had been slogging for all morning, and with it some mysterious tracks in the snow. that seemed to indicate an encounter between Jack McConchie and a rabbit, Unfortunately, that was all the Mediums could deduce from the available informaticn, so they sat down on packs and Pyc's to devour some food, while predictably it began to rain.
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Packing up hastily, and stumbling onto the open Black idge, the sensible Mediusrs made an instant decision not to try for Tarn Bivvy further up the ridge. Instead they headed downhiil to Daphne aN where a journey down the river the next mérnming would bring them safely back to Base camp. This aecision was followed by a quiet three hours of dedicated tramping, accompanied by silent contemplation of the suz rrounding busn (and the occasional nosedive into the snow). Meanwhile, the sockman appeared to be.coping admirably.with iis new predicament (or. so they thought}. The last 400m of the descent was accomplished using the Gluteus Maximus, and with limbs splayed in various directions..
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“Here was an enterteining gymnastic display By Beit who executed a perfect triple divercll somexsauit’ ‘landing ‘feet first in an unsuspecting bush. + ti Other notables were a small patch of mud which claimed three victims in succession, and a huge boulder dislodged by Steve which crashed noisily sown the slope towards ths 1 unfortunate Kate, who in’ another amazing “gymriastic mMancevre, managed to avoid it by inches. The hut was ceached by mid-afternoon, a weicomesurprise, as it was clean and newly-built, ta ali ~~ appearances rat-free, and had a huge bin fuli of Forest.. Service food ~ unlocked. I . But the Mediums, being the canscientiocus and® considerate trampers “that they were, turned a-blind eye to the temptations of Wattie's cre aimed corm and sliced beetroot, end instead, spent the afternoon constructively, preparing the vegetarian masterpiece they had all been waiting for(according to Anne and Kate's original’ recipe). aM ‘That night, while the rest of the Mediums locked “on ‘in horrox, the delightful newly-weds were back in , true form! Meanwhile,’in another corner of the hut, a’ gripping philcsophical Giscussion was taking place, exploring such meaningful topics as subjective reality, ' the existence of God, and the movies "Ping Blood" and -im ua . The excitement died down around 10:00 p.m., and the -, wise and wonderful Mediums settled down to a good night's +" Snoring. ° * ai ae wy »* With the’ ‘dawn’, game the fr grant aroma of frying Pa) ast bid for dry footwear, cks-in all‘. six pairs, and h S
‘wool, as the soctknan pu in a 1 ‘ He élaimed to “he carrying “1 was causing all his , problems. ~~: eo ” : wil ' aj Soon, Jack tuzned up, having spent most of the é: previous day and “oka st Tarn Bivvy, sleeping, and. - ‘drinking copious amounts sbi ~~ A = Se ees "LIVING SIMPLY. “All the gear $i gt fro the vitentains tothe se
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5 ; ra ‘plurts ‘and boulders bravely: £a. end b> Dt. and where they'd begun. We.) The weridwide aecloimneal gif: ae Am erican lightweight h ee ae R' . salt- inflating foam ; I SO steeping pads. TP HeaR wane B NEW ZEALAND AGENT, » fig JAN BAINEAG AOARK ROAE IELMONT, LOWER HUTT. 0 a oo. fe PHONE 494) 651-018, RELOT CHE {QUES ¢ GR GIVE KRULL CREDIT ; CARD DEVAS GNC)CDING FULL NUMBER AND EXPIRY DATE WHEN ORDERING TO P.G, BOX 31028 LOWER HUTT, Fuily Hasteated aud Jeseripiive deatct available on request. 5 PAB PYTE LOMOTHE WEIGHT —- FRERGIFS PAID I STANDARD Long J.82m (6) 1020g ( 2plb} $119.00 “a a 3 619m (4) 593g ( Wb) $ 89.000 > ULTRALITE Long 182m (@) - 794g ( 13tb) $129.00 ~ (RSE ee gs bona gay A828 ald) 3 94.00_ ig et ® r « Kepair ‘Kits $2620 5 “beBec- ht * NY} ON STUFF BAGS for Each Size - $ SAK OL. The warmest, most comfortable night anywhere , eS - is yours with Therm- a-Rest Pads ae: eee as ci En vroute, Steve anc * plunge inte the river{ ; ‘alive, kicking, and awa: Ee iS aken the ultimate £ course), and emerged and Anne had decided to Ss car iéaving: the:
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After a leisurely lunch by the river, the final road walk out to the bus seemed an anticlimax. However, nothing not even wet socks, marital maniacs, flying boulders, or bumslides - could have spoiled the Epic Medium Trip, as they arrived in drius and drabs at the bus; tired and happy they were greeted by the Fit trip, still bursting with unused energy. Epilogue: The resuits of the trial; round oneg Rob Henry found guilty of being the sockman. Sentenced to three consecutive tramping trips with no socks at all,
Trip Members: Anne Greenwood, Rob Henry(alias Basil Fawlty), Murray Worsop, Kate Thomas, Steve Woolerton, Charles Kew, and Susan Fry(scribe) .
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