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The Spike or Victoria University College Review 1932

Tramping Club

page 69

Tramping Club

During the last 18 months the activities of the Club, under the pressure of growing enthusiasm, have been steadily widened and distant fields more fully exploited. A share has been taken in the maintenance and formation of tracks, three working parties clearing a substantial section of the Quoin track, while a few members assisted in the carrying of material for the new Dora Hut. The more competitive appeal of the Tararua Tramping Club's annual sports meeting, to which we were invited, attracted a fairly representative body, which competed with varying success in the events.

At the close of the Degree exams, a large and energetic group undertook several fairly strenuous week-ends, in preparation for the Christmas trips. A novel tramp was made in following the Wainui Orongorongo divide, while a torchlight ascent of Matthews, followed some hours later by a wet crossing of Tapokopoko, gives some idea of the prevailing brand of "he-mannishness."

Of the two vacation trips, the one over the Haast Pass is described elsewhere, while the visit to the Dee Valley of the Kaikouras answered the long-felt call of the sea-carpeted phantom snow and sky just across the Straits. The impelling novelty of the expanses of rolling tussock and serrated naked peaks sheering into fans of scree, with the river-threaded terraces of shingle below, had an appeal distinct from the sombre fertility of the customary wooded slopes. Incidents were never lacking in those crowded days of tramping, shooting, canoeing whose recollection associates a strange New Year's Eve, the exploits of sundry riflemen and the conquest of the redoubtable Ta. Perhaps the most characteristic impression of the district was its spaciousness and infinite unity dominating the transitory visitations of its favoured admirers.

We shared this year in the harvest of successful trips in the Northern Tararuas. Most notable perhaps of these was the official crossing by a party of six from The Pines, at the mouth of the Waingawa Gorge, to Waiopehu, Levin, during Anniversary week-end. In the same period two members participated in the first Holdsworth, Waiohineiti, Crawford traverse. A small party took advantage of the Easter vacation to go practically the length of the range in a trip from Eketahuna to Kaitoke, over the eastern ridges and valleys.

The Orongorongos, that perpetual standby of the Wellington tramper, received, as usual, due attention. Ascents of Tapokopoko, Matthews and Kotumu at various times were characterised in the two latter cases by a distinct dampness that did not justify camps at the Matthews;' flats and on the Baker Spur respectively. Early in January a party of about 15 explored the recently-opened southern slopes of Papatahi, traversing that peak to the Wharepapa River and returning from the Paratahi Stream by the South Boulders' Saddle. In the same month a richly-rewarded party crossed the comparatively neglected stretch of country from the Narrow Neck Stream to Mt. Orongorongo. The long, open ridges afforded comprehensive views of the Wairongamai Basin and Northern Rimutakas.

To date, however, the three most successful expeditions of the year must be accounted the Summer crossing by the recently-tracked Neill's Cone Ridge, the visit to Mr. Hector, and the winter crossing by the time-honoured route. On each of these occasions the conditions were such as to evoke that conviction of the intensity of the experience which lend a unique significance to every stage, and gave in retrospect a more coloured and detailed pleasure than the summation of many ordinary week-ends. The Cone Ridge tired respect into those who bore its steepness, mud, and idiosyncrasies of track, and the familiar Tauherenikau Hut was greeted with relief and expectation of substantial culinary reward. The Hector trip, almost perfect at the time, was rather overshadowed by the success of the winter crossing, where perfect conditions prevailed throughout. The snow was excellent as far over as the Dress Circle, but from there to the edge of Bull Mound the slow drudgery of step-making emphasised the fact that the Tararuas can still fight for their rich but scarce rewards. The snow was, however, warm and dry, and a shift system of labour lightened the work. The short hours of sleep afforded no clear distinction between the coming of night and the rising of the sun. The sunset melted into the pale moon twilight which passed over dawn to sunrise from a bed of cloud. The last stretch from the Upper Tauherenikau Hut to the Pukuratahi Bridge, despite the hour, was not so weary as it might have been, and the party arrived in Wellington once more at about 1 a.m. A tribute is due to the leader, who took upon himself more than his share of the hard work and made the trip one of the best crossings the Club has known.