This text was read by OCR from a scanned newsletter and has not been proofread yet, so expect odd characters and mistakes.
24-26 OCTOBER SIX PACK IN THE HILLS Geoff Crockford 10.40pm. Putara roadend. As the Duchess settles down for the evening, mounted by numerous remaining punters, the FE pack slip into the darkness - destination Herepai Hut. Midnight just passes as the pack reach Herepai and before !ong the rustling sound of nylon pits gives way to the dreaming sensation of sleep. 6.00am Saturday and the rustling sounds retum. Outside the clag looks a liftle uninviting. However moments later the teasing bedtime attire is discarded revealing the splendour of Bannister and Company.
7.00am Out of Herepai pop the Pack - Eric Evans, Paul Critchley, Richard Ferguson, Bruce Wilson, Mark Randal and Geoff Crockford. Ruapae is soon reached and we stop to gorge ourselves on the views. To the north Mt Taranaki and National Park pierce the scott white blanket of cloud across the lowland. To the south a maze of Tararua mountains disappear into the distance, and beyond, just coming into view are the Kaikouras.
East Peak, West Peak and Dundas Ridge scon pass beneath our boots and a sneaky sidlé around Mt Arete has us at Arete Biv for iunch 1.00pm. Relaxing at Arete Biv beneath britiant sunshine and watchful mountains has us reluctant to move. Finally we depart at 2.00pm but are unable to resist the spectacular views and numerous stops see us reaching Lancaster at 4.00pm. Time is slipping away and the Pack now goes to work pushing on down Carkeek Ridge to Carkeek Hut (6.00pm). Home for the night. The evening 25th October 1989 six Tongue and Meats were sitting in a small clearing on Carkeek Ridge eating a hearty meal and watching the sun set over the South Island. 5.30am Sunday, those damn rustling noises again.
6.00am The Pack aims itself down a spur toward the Waichine. 20 minutes of exhilarating descent bring us on target for a spur up onto Dorset Ridge. 7.45am on top of Dorset Ridge we stop for an early moming feast of mountain scenery. This day is even finer than yesterday. Moming tea is had on top of Girdlestone before popping along Table Ridge to Cow Creek Hut for lunch. 1.60pm the Pack departs for the final leg of the trip over Blue Range and out to Kiriwhakapapa. 3.45pm the weekend's tramping is over. However the memory of this particular Tararua Tour and the sights, sounds and laughter of the Pack will last somewhat longer.