This text was read by OCR from a scanned newsletter and has not been proofread yet, so expect odd characters and mistakes.
Medium Trip
( , etting to the Railway Station is always a hassle on Friday night, being torn between the work social and getting going on another trampin the Tararuas in the rain, wind, and cold. The weather forecast for the weekend was “if: -” to say the least, and the snow was visibly low on the _ southern flanks of Mount Hector._|\ Whose idea was it to go in search of the elusive Aunty Tutuwai, anyway?
We arrived at the station in dribs and drabs after the enthusiastic Easy group who were off to Powell for the weekend. Maybe we could have attached ourselves to that group nobody. would have noticed a couple more hangers on anyway. But we
By Par Durry were noticed and had to front up to a trip from Holdsworth roadend to Kaitoke.
The Duchess thundered in with open arms to carry us Off into the night, and k off ata breakneck 80km/h
7-9 July 1995
Snow had been falling earlier so the way was well-defined with a picture postcard scene greeting us at almost every turn.
We eventually reached the hut at 10:15 pm, threw ona brew, and before too long we got into some serious pit bashing, _ towards the Holdsworth roadend.
Mountain House was our destination for the first night so we bid the Easies farewell and strode off into the darkness, wondering yet again why _on earth we were doing this. The night was lit by a moon that dashed in and out of the clouds as we made our way up the Gentle Annie track.
ae ee te ae
Pat was eager to get going in the moming, having had nightmares about rats eating the food, and after a good breakfast we backtracked to the Totara Flats turnoff. Tararua was living up to its name with snow flurries, sleet, and horizontal rain. Aunty Tutuwai better have some ‘scones on! WT&MC_ AUGUST 1995
We made our way down towards the swingbridge over the, Waiohine River through some really great mud and tangles. The bridge was being blown out at all sorts of precarious angles and still the sleet came. One at a time we crossed the bridge; first Dave, then Pat, John, Wendy, and Prakash. Our hearts followed close after. It wasn’t that bad after all. But we did wish we had a camera to record our bravery!
Totara Flats Hut was a welcome spot for a brew and a quick bite for lunch. Still it blew and rained, but it was clearing with the odd patch of blue encouraging us on.
The next stop after Cone Hut was to be Aunty Tutuwai’s place in the valley. We arrived there after an 8 hour day, at 4:30 pm. A welcome greeting by . a couple of blokes with expensive rapid fire walking sticks and a couple of others who had been resting up after an 8 hour trip in from Smiths Creek. The hut warden was a fine bloke who was keen to get the tickets as we walked in the door. We told him we had come to visit our relation,
Aunty Tutuwai, and did she have the scones warmed? His dogs took a snap at each of us in turn as we entered. He wasn’t too sure of us at all by this stage, as he believed his dogs to be good judges of character. Needless to say, we failed to qualify for a bulk discount.
Apricot chicken, cheesecake and fruit salad was welcomed by all as the other trampers, the warden and his dogs looked on in astonishment at one of the “Medium’s” more mundane menus. We were rapidly making friends.
The wind continued to blow from all quarters that evening and was in close competition with Prakash's snoring.
Sunday mornings are great fora sleepin and we did just that. Thoughts of the Easies crossed our minds but not for long as we drifted in and out of consciousness, At 10:00 amwe strode off towards Smiths Creek, closely followed by the hut warden and his salivating dogs. I think they had cottoned onto the fact that WT&MC
Medium punters ate well, and baked beans didn’t evenrate a close second.
Smiths Creek saw lunch emerge and another rain shower just as the billy boiled. The Forest and Bird punters were out on a daywalk, stepping amongst our scattered belongings in the clearing, and the “warden” was still close by with his mates.
After an hourlong rest and recreation, we Climbed out up the track and made it to Kiwi Ranch by 3 pm. Just enough time for a cuppa with Roger and a welcome soak in his spa pool until the truck arrived to collect us.
Eat ya heart out, Easies!
By the way, we had forgotten all about Aunty Tutuwai and so the quest will need to be repeated some time. Keep your eyes open.
The punters were: John Renouf Wendy Rodie David McDowell Prakash Jeram Pat Duffy (leader and scribe)