This text was read by OCR from a scanned newsletter and has not been proofread yet, so expect odd characters and mistakes.
Ever asked yourself, or been asked, “Why spend the weekend thrashing your body in the bush?” The question weighed on my mind more than once during a recent weekend. Measured plans for a leisurely stroll up High Ridge, along to Jumbo, and culminating at the Jubilee picnic at Donnelly Flats, were well under way when I discovered my trip had been hijacked. Vague references to going “up north” for a “training run” were made by the hijacker. This could mean only one thing, a covert attempt at a weekend S-K (Schormanns - Kaitoke traverse of the Tararuas). Having aspired to this masochistic venture after reading the excellent anthology on the S-K compiled by Lyndsay Cuthbertson, the fit trip for the weekend was quickly re-routed to Putara on Friday night. A rather anxious Stuart (having only been informed of the slight change in plans that Friday morning) picked through the high sugar foods at our Eketahuna dinner stop in anticipation of some rather long days. The weather deteriorated overnight, Herepai Hut groaned in the rising winds. “Why go out in this sort of crap?” The major consolation was the thought that Paul Critchley and lan Bunckenburg were suffering, stumbling around Arete somewhere in the murk and breeze, in an attempt to steal the march on us. It was now past midnight. A 4 am rise. Commonsense prevails over egos, sending us down into the valleys instead of attempting to fumble our way along the tops in strong winds, mist and dark. But as the day dragged on, clag lifting and wind abating, ego overcame commonsense. We decided to “pop” up to Jumbo along to Holdsworth thereby cutting off Critchley and Buncks before they got to Powell. What fools! We missed them by an hour and as we slipped down to Mountain House for the night we could only think, “Why did they keep going?” “Why head for Cone Hut another 6-7 hours away?” We never stood a chance catching the “old bastards”, but after 24 hours of being on the hoof we arrived at Kaitoke with a sense of achievement, as well as some peculiar gaits. Thanks to the hijacker who has a very peculiar way of celebrating his 53rd birthday. Upcoming trips: 5-7 December Dawson Falls Taranaki/Egmont The South side of the mountain offers easy access and some great and varied scenery, from the goblin lowland forest to the slopes above. Amongst the highlights is Lake Dive, Sue Walsh promising an easy trip on this section of the Round the Moun- "tain track. For those wanting to gain some altitude the route up to Fanthams Peak and down to the Beehives offers a medium trip led by Ed Cox with stunning views (on a clear day). Above bushline experience required. For AIC graduates Rhys Burns is looking for some company to join him on heading for the top. For those on the Club Search and Rescue First Response Callout list make sure you've enrolled for this year’s SAR Regional Exercise (SAREX) — if you haven’t you may miss out on those highly coveted chopper flights.
12-14 December Makara A popular venue in the past for low key end of year functions and no doubt it will be this year. The Terawhiti Goldfields and associated coastline are an interesting mix of modified landforms (i.e. farmland) and rough and ready coastline, with great views out over the Strait. Harry Smith, well versed in the history of this area, leads a casual