This text was read by OCR from a scanned newsletter and has not been proofread yet, so expect odd characters and mistakes.
The Seqvel (photos & report Stephen Hope)
The Summer trip planning meetmg haf been held. The devil has managed to yet another trip to Rangiwahia (Ruahines) on the schedule after creating havoc on the same trip last year. However, the absence of a leader may put paid to the devil's miserable plans. The Chief Guide, having sold her soul to the devil to become Chief Guide, cannot refuse I anm the devil's reqvest for this trip. But, with no leader, the trip can be avoided. The devil if concerned and rings the Chief Guide:
Chief Guide: Hello.
Devil: G'day Chief. I hope you are not about to cancel my favourite trip to Rangiwahia?
Chief Guide: I don’t want to but after the weather, slips and giardia you inflicted on the punters last time, none of my trip leaders would dare venture there again.
Devil: Come, come. Surely there is some gullible, inexperienced Jeader out there who didn't hear the stories from last time. I insist that you email all potential leaders, particularly those with little experience.
Chief Guide: All right.
Devil: Oh, make sure you describe the trip as EASY. That should get the naive ones to sign up.
Chief Guide: Easy! It is at least 6 hours walk to the hut via Deadman’s track and the track isn’t even shown on the topographic maps! Also, I've heard the track out has had to be diverted and is very steep and adds an hour to the journey.
Devil: Yes! That is all part of my plan. And, you must not tell anyone about the lack of water on the track. I will make the forecasters predict a day of low cloud and drizzle before unleashing a blistering hot day with no wind. That should ensure a few cases of dehydration and sunburn!
Chief Guide: Very well. But this is the last time! My term as Chief Guide ends soon!
And $0 it happened that I signed up for my first tramp as leader, having lead just one day walk last year. It had been almost 12 months since my last overnight trap and I had never been to the Ruahines. I was the epitome of the gullible, naive, inexperienced leader that the devil was looking for.
The devil did not count on my nervousness and caution. After buying 3 maps, consulting the Chief Guide extensively on the tramp and leading trips, and using all the resources that the internet could provide me, I felt reasonably comfortable that no-one f Life would be pot at risk.
Meanwhile, the Chief Guide is still a bit concerned about the trip...
Chief Guide: I know I must comply with the devil on this trip but surely there is something I can do to prevent the havoc he caused last time?
Assistant Chief Guide: How about if I go along to help and keep an eye on this new leader.
Chief Guide: Excellent! And perhaps ! can convince Becky Austin to go along to help too. We will pretend that she has a friend just getting into ttamping as an excuse for joining an easy trip. Assistant Chief Guide: And I'll also discourage all the beginners from taking part in the trip. I'll ask them to withdraw and use injuries an excuse for pulling out.
Chief Guide: That should do it. We will finally beat the devil!
And f0 tt ended up that we had 8 in the qroup. T were members and I, af Leader, was perhaps the second least experienced on the trip. The qrovp manayed to make it's way to the hut without once being in dovbt of the way to qo, enjoyed some great Views and spent some quality time at Rang! Hut.
There were no injuries other than a bit of sunburn and we even had time to spend an hour or fo at a café before picking up the mediums from their road-end. I might even Lead another trip if the club will Let me!