This text was read by OCR from a scanned newsletter and has not been proofread yet, so expect odd characters and mistakes.
It was a cold winter weekend when seven intrepid trampers set out for Kime Hut. A forecast for bitterly cold weather called for a rapid change of plans and it was decided to make a trip to Waitewaewae Hut (otherwise known as Want a Wee Wee). The trampers arrived at Otaki Forks and spent the first night in a litte old hut nearby with several “mezzanine floors”, where there ‘was much debate as to where everyone would sleep. Early the next day they set off, crossing the swing bridge, where one keen tramper nearly risked her life and another’s by not reading the “one person at a time” sign!
After an initial climb, the track followed some old train tracks, reaching an old steam engine, where there was a quick photo stop.
The track went up and down, crossing rivers and streams some 30 times. The trampers reached the saddle for a late lunch. Then it was Mud Mud Glorious Mud! Bog, Swamp ... for what seemed like ages. The novice trampers quickly learned that it was quicker and easier just to stomp right through the bog rather than trying to navigate aroundit! The would-be snow trekkers had left their ice axes on their packs Gust for the photos!), and one poor tramper was nearly impaled on the end of her fellow tramper’s ice axe when he came to asudden stop while crossing a rather boggy bit!
The wom out trampers arrived at Waitewaewae Hut a couple of hours behind schedule, due to a major slip which had lengthened the trip considerably. The hut was bursting full, the trampers joining another large party, as wellas the Mediums who arrived alittle later. After drying out in front of the wonderful pot belly stove, the ravenous trampers then set about preparing a feast. They were introduced to the delights of Vegan cooking - a vege stew was cooked up including tofu, lentils, and anything else that was going.
The “Mother” figure of another party seemed to be. under the misapprehension that her group had reserveg!. a table at this restaurant, and was also amazed that such wor out trampers could still sit around telling tales and playing cards after 9:30!
After a good night’s sleep in the warm hut, the wet polypros were put on and the trampers set off back to the truck. Back through the mud, the bog, the swamp. Up a hill and down a hill ...across a river... up another hill and down another hill... across another river... .
The Mediums caught up with them at the engine for lunch where everyone grabbed a piece of sunlight through the trees, tucked into lunch, and passed around scroggin. Of course everyone tried to take more than their share of jaffas. The trampers made it back to the truck in one piece, - covered in mud, and pleasantly exhausted. Trampers were: Graham (trip Leader), Caroline, Jonathan, Kelvin, Helen, Robert, and Kate.