This text was read by OCR from a scanned newsletter and has not been proofread yet, so expect odd characters and mistakes.
A SOUTHERN CELEBRATION (13-15 NOVEMBER} - Marshall Clark a ee a ee eg a ee
In his inimitable fashion, Hunty cajoled and organised 30 or'so Fitness types to celebrate the Club's 40th Anniversay celebration by joining his Southern Crossing trip. Four van-loads left the -station at their scheduled times on Friday, but our van got stuck for over half an hour in a huge traffic jam which seemed to stretch from Plimmerton to Paraparaumu. We eventually arrived at Otaki Forks and set off up towards Field Hut in failing light and very humid ..— conditions. I’ had been told that the track was muddy, but I wasn’t fully prepared for the frustrations of. wading/stumbling through the bog as darkness fell. We had been instructed that we must get to Kime that night, but on reaching Field Hut at 10pm, even Anita, our valient co-leader, was happy to stay put (even if we had to fight with the rats!) After a rokebiabie “igi: we set off at 7am towards Kime in overcast westerly conditions. From Tabletop onwards, the visibility was very limited - a great disappointment for those of us doing our first "Southern". Still, Brian had @ warm weleome and a hot brew’ ready. for us when we reached Kime Hut. °' - : ti wteppea for a few moments by the Hector Cross, and tried to ARLES the view that «as eluding us. Better luck next time I suppose! We plodded on to Alpha for lunch in gradually improving conditions. Dropping down to Hells Gate and onto Bull Mound, we at last got some good views over theWairarapa. I was particularly fascinated by the rock outcrops on top of Bull Mound. ihe, Boge . as The descent from, ‘Bull Mound to’Cone Flats seems long and steep and the extreme humidity made it a rather sweaty affair. One highlight. was the loud raucous squawking of kakas in the tree tops above me, When “we reached Cone Flats” Jack had already arrived with the ‘nedium party who had come in from Walls Whare. He had gathered a huge pile of firewood for the evening inferno and had already set about transforming it to ashes. With great team effort and Anita's: CGordination, a vast ~quantity of Beef Stroganoff was then prepared and eagerly consumed by the hungry hoards. . Jack's camp fire was great, but the rain eventually sent most of us to bed before the wood supply was exhausted. Sunday Morning was clear and I really enjoyed the trip down the Tauherenikau valiey. It must be one of the most beautiful river valleys in the, Tararuas,. A crowd of over 80 Tongue and Meats of all ages had gathered at Smith Creek: for lunch to enjoy the sun, to chat, and celebrate the club's 40th Anniversary. “A warm but pleasant stroll tqaok us, to Kaitoke and our bus mente ‘Rome ine hs Many thanks to Brian and Anita: for a great woekend. Perhaps I'll see the famous view next time on the "Southern".