This text was read by OCR from a scanned newsletter and has not been proofread yet, so expect odd characters and mistakes.
Ruahines 14 - 16 March 1997 Team: Pooh (Leader & Chef), Stuart (Birdiian), Prakash (Mean Bowler), John (Ski Poles), Peggy (Brrr...), Nick and Nola (Hitchhikers), Phil (“Walking” Wallet), and Ann (Telecom);Gavin (uninvited).
Awesome sunshine in Wellington soon gave way to mountain mist as the team slowly made their way north, not without plenty of phaffing: making phone calls, losing wallets, and other important business. Eventually arrived at the roadend and found a good cowpat site to pitch the fly. Saturday began with a few kilometres along the Makaroro River flats. This soon singled out the Brits in the party who looked a tad wobbly at even the shallowest of river crossings. It has to be remembered that the British attitude to crossing rivers is “Use a bridge” (quote from BMC Mountain Leader Handbook) -Umm, that’s useful advice!
he trip Schedule nearly said it all - Sunday 2 March 1997, Ohau — Waiopehu Ridge - Ohau Hut, Medium Grade, 4 hours. Go in from swingbridge and up the Waiopehu ridge track for about an hour, then turn down a track to the old Ohau Hut, and back out via the river track. An area we have not done much in. Nice bush and views. Good-swimming holes in the Ohau River. That is a pretty fair description and just
We soon headed up into the bush (and the mist) with only brief pauses to collect grass seeds and other essential excuses. Met up with Gavin, and the Sparrowhawk Bivouac was a welcome relief from the now developing horizontal rain. Good excuse for a feed and overtrousers/leggings donned by most, though a change in plans were averted as the wind died out and the mist lifted a little.
The views of the sunshine out at the coast were a little frustrating as we battled our way along the ridge - a new experience of being blown uphill didn’t actually make things any easier. We followed the ridge along to Armstrong Saddle and dropped down to Top Maropea Hut - thankfully out of the wind (for the time being). We arrived in plenty of time - a good excuse for a big five course feed. Nine people squashed into the hut but Gavin about says it all. What more can be added?
Our party of 16-gat hered-in- Kimberley Road, Levin, at 10am after a reasonably fine weather forecast from the Met. Office.
Present were: Judy Armstrong, Neil Carey (Leader), Dot and Dave Catchpole, Barry Cook, Marilyn Duffy, Ron Fayle, Beth and Kevin Griffiths, Heather Jones, Julie, Ben was not happy to be left outside and ranted all night - little sleep was had by anyone. Sunday saw any ideas of a good stomp evaporate as the team struggled to crawl their way to Sunrise Hut. Prizes for style were hotly contested by Stuart’s birdman impression and Phil’s horizontal boulder technique - good practice for next year’s wind festival events guys! The team eventually decided to “drop” into the bush for shelter and regroup at Sunrise Hut. Another good feed was called for before leaving Gavin behind and descending the motorway track to Triplex Hut. Spirits lifted and excess energy was spent on a quick game of “Bat down” where the team’s true skills were all revealed, before heading back to Wellington - but not without more phaffing: roadside inspections, feeding etc.