Levin Trampers Again Cross Tararua Ranges

Chronicle (Levin), 1 April 1948, Page 4

Levin Trampers Again Cross Tararua Ranges

The Easter holidays provide'd yet * another crossing of the Tararua Ranges for six members of the Levin-Waiopehu Tramping Club. This time tlie much longer route, Levin tq Carterton via Mount Hoidsworth, was chosen. The party commenced the trip on Thursday evening, travelling up the Ohau River and spending the night at the newly-erected south Ohau Hut. With an early start on Friday morning in fair weather, Ihe party reached the high tops before noon. At this stage thiek fog, a strong wind and. drizzling rain were encountered all the way tq Tam Ridge, where camp was' made for the night. Conaitions on Saturday morning were improving rapidly as progress was made towards the peak of, Girdlestone (5090 feetk, which was reached at 10.45 a.m. After a "boil up" and a conversatiop with ~sc west-bound party froni The Mitre, the trek along thq high Wairarapa tops -was cammenjeed at noon in pleasant weather with some very clear views" of otle sur- ■ rounding country and cba itlines, including a gfimps.e of the South Island. Continuing, the party reached the trig .of Mount HoldsI worf_h-"at dusk, after which i short • walk dowfi the tfack ^ndlrfisibe day at Powell Hut. : During the night a westeiuy gale, accompanied by heavy rainJsprang up and continued throughput the day. However, this did nol daupt the party, which made £in easy descent to the Wairarap^ Plains, via Carrington Track gnd the Mangatiri Valley, thus coinpleting the trip through' cQimtry mew to - nearly all who took part. / j