This text was read by OCR from a scanned newsletter and has not been proofread yet, so expect odd characters and mistakes.
“Our trip, leader: allowed the more adventuresome amongst us (whocesme. cringed= ‘at the: ‘thought of groveliing around in freezing streams) to clamber up the Puketurua Track to Ngapuketurua. in training for our climb, three of us ‘pushed a new route up the dam ‘(using the fixed ladder}, only to run into problems with our packs and the trapdoor at the top. After regrouping, we divided fifteen minutes later, with four now forcing back the boundaries of the unknown. After an initial very steep section, the path eased nicely, and we made the top.of the ridge in just over an hour, swearing not to let Don set the pace again, a The day was perfect, the.cloudless sky: providing magnificent views of Mts Ruapehu and Y2>one:i, the Ruahines, Kaimanawas and Kawekas, the coast, the Strait, the South Island and Kaikouras, and the ridge providing the leatherwood. We stopped for lunch on a knob about 20 metres and 20 minutes from Ngapuketurua. After an hour of eating, drinking and sunbathing (no wind either), we discovered even more dense patches of scrub before breaking through to more sensible bush, then an open stream in the Harris Creek catchment. From then on-it was a pleasant boulder hop down to Harris Creek Hut for.the night, ‘with only one dunking and one unhappy face at not coming across the waterfall marked on the . . ea a > Sunday, and. ape was ‘decided six cf us would toi laa thes ‘Mangahao River out, while the other three would take the track. Immediately after ‘splitting at the Dick Creek junction, .two Tambaee found the disadvantages of sticking to. the water's edge... One perservered, but the rest of us found ourselves back’ on the track for the tricky bit. We were back in the river forthe gorge.though. There is nothing like a swim in the morning : to wake one up .--along with the rest ef the wildlife with the shrieks of reactioa to the:cold. But after.the footbridge, it widened. nicely and the sun of ancther perfect day dried and warmed us, helping:.us to get back to the van 20 minutes before Murray. He arrived to find us lounging in-the midday warmth, the @nd of a thoroughly. enjoyabie trip... eo ae (ere
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