This text was read by OCR from a scanned newsletter and has not been proofread yet, so expect odd characters and mistakes.
~ Philip and John Booth It. was a bit strange, this trip. Whereever we Mediums went, the Fits were sure to (follow). Was it that they weren’t sure what trip théy. wanted to do? The bus got away on Friday night with half a load of us Tongue-and- Meaters and half a load of Onslow Collegeites, heading for Apiti in the Ruahines up above Feilding. The ride was uneventful until a short stop was had at Kimboltcn where the driver checked into the local establishment’, A passer-by was distinctly heard to say, "Gee - a bus in’ Kimbolton!!" and when asked if the hotel had any beds, said, "I don't think there ‘is’ very many", but was reassured to learn we weren't all: ' planning to'stay. ; "8 : So we pressed on, turning down successive narrowing country rdade until . the bus ground. to a halt where the road edge was falling away and we could bus no further ~- a kilometre from our intended terminus. Following an exciting ‘and eventually successful 40-seater bus mandpvrein¥olving backing down a narrow lane in the dark and turning ina gate-. way (after the gate had been duly remcved), the parties donned packs and started: out for Heritage Lodge. : Ee o After half an hours smart pace involving various routes, sliding down banks in the dark, etc, 35 or so bodies marched into the Lodge. This lodge is quite a cosy affair, especially when sleeping out in the wood heap where nature's quiet is less disturbed. Admittedly, the firewood had to be rearranged a little - good practice for the following night up at Longview.
Awaking Saturday to a view of fresh snow on the tops, we Mediums set off after the Medium-Advance-Party (fondly referring to themselves as "Fits"} on the track up the hill onto Tunupo, 1568m, in the Ngamoko Range. The overnight rain had stopped, end overcast high cloud remained. Reports circuiated at some stage of a certain body found squatting in a conspicuous place invoived in dubious activities, setting booby traps for the following Onslow-ites. Paui's new PVC pack was the talk of the hills - waterproof? Rocmy? Conspicuous! Comfortable? The trip leader, bravely leading from the rear, eventually caught the rest of the party induiging in an early lunch, and reported that he had lost one of the party. He didn't seem tco worried about this, however, so reassured, we qot up and headed away towards the snow covered tops just above. ds the south a and west was clear and fantastic, looking The view tow out over ro ting farmlands to the coast, even sighting Kapiti. The view was ce: ta inly more impressive than anything we had experienced in: the Taréruas and provided the secting for a worthwhile trip-witha-differen &, ,
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As we embarkec northward along the range, the weather clagged in and the view chinced remarkably (the inside of a Ruahines cloud looks just Like any oenen). mt soft wet snow was 4 new.experience for. some, but the going wasn't toc difficult, especially if one had the sense to. lag behind a bit argc use someone else's footsteps.
Cu ri} Eventually we found the right spur off the Ngamoko, and crashéd down through the snow towards the Pohangina S2ddle and hopefully Longview Hut, on the Ruahine Range. The saddie itself sits on a razor back and without gocd visibility was not easy to find. As might be expected, the spur divided, and the front section of the party. took the wrong one. It ‘was at this point that.fan sudde mly called out excitedly, “I can hear music" to which che others' reply can be imagined. Then - “Its ‘The Final Countdown'!:” Think of it - high up in the hills, in the clag, in the snow and wind - and on the wrong spur! Music! And. when he caught up with the others, the others heard it too! Strange happenings,’ im the Ruahines: Longview Hut shortly arrived, offering ~ 4 bunks {the "Fits" had arrived firsi) for our 11. It vasnit so bad actually. With our . previous nicht's prac’ ice with the wood heap, we made short work of. the Longview firewoou sheiter and w ith the use of one of our flies, soon had a good shelter for six. The fire smoked the hut out, but with 15 bodies packed in there and. various primuses doing their thing, the hut was soon cosy, the wind. and snow outside forgetten. The stew was memorab¥e,; but more so was. the: steamed pudding, custard and cream which followed! The night's slumber was prefaced by much hilarity with the Bits’ Dave and Rodger providing a Hibs oH ic type entertainment... I ~ The. ¢almer ang clearer weather in:the morning was weicomed, especially since the. Bog being on its side-meant-an otherwise draughty business of.“attending to Nature, Sunday was a:fairly heavy program as Sundays go, with 16 map kilometres to cover and a. good 360m climb straight after breakfast. Rodger and his “Fit” téam fincluding I’m-never-lastto-pack-Neil} headed off at 7:40a.m., half an hour before our party, because they wanted to be sure of getting back to the- bus on time (we Mediums weren‘’< vorried; our: ‘fitness being in no doubt ) . OO ’ So. we started out pack ‘the way we had'come the day: before, climbing up off the Ruahine Range and ove: the Ngamoko, down onto a long bush covered spur leading to Irongate Hut beside the Orcua River, As we came down from the tons, the "Fits" were sneaking about in the bush edge looking for the track and hcping we wouldn’t see them, and later pushed off down the eevee @s wa marched inte the hut at the bottom. Rut the half nour iead they had maintained was for nought. While they assessed river ccavel as the quickest way back, we stopped for lunch then took the chance on the sidie track which looked mors direct. Sure enough, 2 hours later, naif an hour quicker than the river time, we got to Heritage Lodge and so on up to the bus on time,
On the trip were: John Booth {isader), David Brown, Philip Booth, Gregory Fellmann, Brian Charles, Mark Neeson, Rohan Harrigan, tan Bennett, Mark Kan@ail, Tony Stone, Paul Critchiey {Ken Mosley).
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