This text was read by OCR from a scanned newsletter and has not been proofread yet, so expect odd characters and mistakes.
by Hugh MacEwan
On a recent weekend in May nine people embarked on a tramp up Lee Creek a side valley off the main Wairau Valley. Our trusty "Duchess" deposited the party at the locked gate beyond the Six Mile Stream. The blue sky above and the low cloud clinging to the snowy mountains made the 3km stroll along the road almost bearable and the suspension bridge beyond St Ronan's Well provided the means to cross the Wairau without getting wet feet.
After four hours of easy ttamping we arrived at Lee Creek Hut which was situated in a superb setting surrounded by snow-covered mountains. It was instantly obvious that with only one set of bunk beds the hut would not sleep nine people. Itwas democratically decided (I think) that the two sets of couples should sleep in the hut. As I was one half of a couple I didn't complain.
it was a relief to get the fire going as icicles started to form as soon as the sun set behind the mountains. (1! heard a wee whisper from a reliable source that a delicious and potentially explosive dinner was enjoyed by all and some of the
It was a beautiful, clear, starry night with the full moon casting shadows on to the snow. Itwas also a very cold night!!
The morming dawned equally beautiful and cold. The party returned by the same route to meet the “Duchess” at the Six Mile Stream.