EASTER IN THE TARARUAS

Chronicle (Levin), 27 April 1946, Page 4

EASTER IN THE TARARUAS

dETlNd f 6 TE MATAWAI ; • MAN-t' TRAM'PERS OUT , . A* very ' successful Easter was spent by seven members of the Levin-Waiopehu Tramping Club in the nofthern Tararuas. This trip was \the club's first to Te Matawai Hut and the adjacent peaks since its revival. On Thursday evening * j!ie first party of .three left for the Ohau .Hut via the track, and at midriight w.ere later jcined by 'the remaining four wrio had pixeeeded ffi lili hut. by splendid moonlight. Shortly after, five members df the Mdnriwdtu Tramping Club airrived also. ■ ' Godd Friday broke with ovdrcast skies but no rain, and by 7 a.m. the pdf'ty Was' tiff u-p the Ohau River terthe foot of Yeates' Track.- The r'ivef WaS quite' low, and the -party was joiried by an advarice party 6f the Victoria University College Trampirig C'lub' who were also making for Te Matawai' Hut. After a short spfell the party began the steep climb at' the start of Yeates' "frack, arid. afte't ericduritering mist arid slight rain reached Dora .Track and eventually Te Matawai Hut at appfox'imately 12.30 p.m. Gradually, in parties of four or five, members of the o'thef clubs arrived until the hut was filled ta capacity with the seferi Levin,- seWen Manawatu and 1 22 'Varsity trampers and four deeristaike'rs, makirig a total of 40. Heavier rain which well in the latter part of- the aftefrioori, arid the fdfecris't that a cold front was approaching from the south, madd' the outlook for good weather doubtful". However, after d restlfess night* oWirig to thfe crairiped positions, one ventured from his sleeping-bag and returned with the, good news that ihe tops were ciear, arid the sky cloudiess. After a Sdlid hreakfast the 'Varsity arid local partifes were, away by 6 a.m. for the tops of Pukematawai (4700ft.) and Arete | (4035ft.)', the latter being reached shortly after 8 a.m. To many it was (their first experience of alpine bush jarid srioW grass, and this, together iwith the witnessing of the first rays of the SUn lightirig up the Horowhenua and Manawatu plainsj was anrinspiring experience. Unfortunately, clouds banking in from the West Coast soon . dbsfeured thd view, and the rriiSt Whiriri wasgradually creeping over from theEast Coast ruined all views of the Wairarapa. From the top of Arete, the Levin trampers headed nortlr With the intention of C'iimhing Dun-. das,, (493,5ttJ and Bannister (5080ft.) , the'taliest peak in the riorthern Tararuas, on the returri trip; While the 'Varsity party pro- ' eeeded south for Mitre Hut. The mist from the east intensified until after a spell on Brockett Rocks, near the' summit of Dundas, the part^ decided td fetrifn Srid K6p§ for an' opportunity to climb Bannis-* terr Ori the' return five of the Manawatu ■ trampers from Te Matawai HUt Wer'd friet making for Harris' Greek Hut; via the tops. Tbough donditioris did improve slightly, ther mist was too thick to remain ori top, so the. party returned to Te Matawai Hut. Alohg the ridges to i-Efiindas from Arete numerous deef ijiri threes and fours, including sevj feral gdod heads, Were seen. j Sunday broke with clea-r skifesl iand after an early breakfast the1 ! party Was off fof Waiopehu (3588 ft.) , via.Butcher's Saddle and Twiri; l Peak. The last portion of this track' !to Richard's Kridb, together 'wi'tli" ithe Gable End Ridge, was reasdn-" ably reopened by the ManawatuTramping Club. The climb frorri s the saddle to Richard's Knob was" ! sobh covered, and by 8.45 a.m. the (party was on the top of RiChafd's iKnob, from where, after a short J spell, the small saddle to Twin 'Peak Was traversfed, arid Subsejquently the summit of Waiopehu' was reached. Along this route a I large deer on Waiopehu had caused j much interest for -nearly ari' hour, ! arid seeriied qui-tfe;4uridistUrbfed; by j th'e trampers' presehce/: Thb Weatli|er was perfect, ^iid' the yiews- were i outstanding. Aparitrirom the p'lairis jbelow and many of the Tararua peaks that were visible, Egmont, Ruapehu and the Kaikouras stood out cloudiess. After a short tramp in the vicinity of* where the Waiojpehu Hut stood before it was wreck-* ed by the hurricane, and lunch on the summit, the party returned to |Te Matawai Hut via the same i routfe in perfect weather, arriving (there shortly before 4 p.m. i On Monday, a day with similat clear iriews but high clouds, the ' party made the return trip to Levin Via Richards' Knob, and northWUrd_ iri the leather-leaf bush to Gable End, thence down through the bush to the Ohau* Hut. After a boil-up and lunch the final stage (of the trip along the Ohau Track to the Pipe Bridge was carried out, completing a most erijoyabie four days of tratiipirig.