This text was read by OCR from a scanned newsletter and has not been proofread yet, so expect odd characters and mistakes.
2 - 4 SEPTEMBER 1994
Leader: Sue Walsh
Members:
Eric Blumhardt, Matthew Craig, David Thompson, Brian Ellis, Ferrida Curwood, Katy Taylor, Graham Morley, Edward Cox (scribe). Fine weather is as much a gift from nature as a blessing of the muse is when desperately trying to write about a weekend gone. Whenit was least expected, this trip was marked by a spectacular Saturday when the clouds stayed away and the mountain shone down upon us. A combination of blue skies, relaxed schedule, and good times made for the sort of weekend that keeps people keen.
The back end of the railway station always seems a place people are eager to get away from. Yet on a Friday evening in the grip of what was promised as at least the junior prom queen of all southerlies, I had my doubts that a car park on the southern slopes of Ruapehu was where I wanted to go. The comforting thought I had in leaving the office was that there was no doubt I had enough gear. Yet Saturday morning found us snug in our mobile tin tent under clear skies. Phew!
Encouraged by Allen Higgins’ 6.30am wake-up and not daunted that Ferrida hadn't turned up, we left the skiers for their pajeros and set off to enjoy the great combination of bush, rock formations, views, and streams on the menu. Ambling over boardwalks, we stopped at Waitonga Falls to play and let Eric fiddle with his camera. Unfortunately, he hadn’t stopped when the daring behind-thefalls manoeuvre was completed. Just short of Blyth Hut Ferrida caught us along with Zar and the Goodhue family, so that lunch took on an “all together again” atmosphere.
The aftemoon leg was definitely the highlight of the trip for me. All but Sue and Ferrida decided to take the high route up the ridge behind Blyth Hut, above and around a series of bluffed creek heads and then down to Mangaehuehu. Axe, hat, goggles, mitts, and away! The snow conditions were excellent and in ten minutes Katy was given her own AIC; the abridged version. Climbing up out of a beautiful, evenly covered stream valley, we traversed series of ridges and basins taking time to enjoy the mountain and pick our route down.
Coming downwas spectacular. Snowfilled gullies reached well down into the top of the beech forest allowing us quick access to an area that looked like something out of The Lion, the Witch and The Wardrobe; either that or a James Bond ski run. With Eric at the helm, the hut stopped eluding us (the last bush section requires perseverance and long legs to see over the trees) and we were soon firmly ensconced on the verandah enjoying the remains of the day. Happily, Sue and Ferrida soon arrived, the low road having taken no longer.
Mangaehuehu Hut has much to recommend it, including bunkrooms, and we settled down for a good night. We talked around the burner and Matt broke all the rules by talking shop heavily interlaced with TLAs (“three letter acronyms”). Sue’s honey and tea chicken dish made its fourth encore for the winter and was warmly received, followed by the determined sponge. The effort took its toll and Sue led the path to the pit, but not before we had talked to Don back at Blyth Hut on the phone - trampers of the 90s!
Sunday clagged in and we beat a rapid retreat to the Duchess, having met the Blyth Hut team on the way out. We couldn't complain, having had a great day prior. Ferrida headed north and by 130pm the Duchess was steaming home. There was every chance we would make the end of Melrose Place. “Classy” said Matt.