Levin-Waiopehu Tramping Club Probably Stronger Today Than Ever Before

Chronicle (Levin), 8 July 1948, Page 7

Levin-Waiopehu Tramping Club Probably Stronger Today Than Ever Before

IREVIYED only in 1946 after a five-y'ear war recess, the Levin-, Waiopehu Tramping Club has grown from strength to strength until today its activities are probably more flourishing than at any time in its history, which started in 1927.To everybody is given the opportunity of glimpsing from afar the beauties pf the Tararuas^-their changing colouring and light, according to the seasons, their reflections of glorious sunsets and the majestic sight they prese*nt when. clad in their winter mantle of snow. Surprisingly few, however, venture into this fine'mountain playground with which Levin is endowed. To those who do the reward is magnificent views and panoramas, junexcelled scenic spots, and health giving and exhilarating sport with a warrn spirit of camaraderie amongst those who' indulge in it.

As far as is known, the first ■entry into the Tararuas dates back as far as 1839, when Dr. Erne^t Diffenbach and Major Charles Heappy made an exploratory trip in the Southern Tararuas for huias.| Several excursions were made in the ! following years until about 1870, when the original triangulation of| trigs was carried out by Messrs.j Henry Jackson and Morgan- Car- 1 keek. It was not until 1900 that public interest in these mountains was quickened, and from then on j trips become more frequent. ! In early 1927 two young meni entered Ihe Tararuas for a week-i end, lost their way and some daysj later stumbled back ro civilisation • exhausted and half starved. Parties of cttizens had searched extensively but fruitlessiy for them. This led to the calli-ng of a meecing on May . 11, 1927, at which the LevinWaiopehu Tramping Club - was formed, with the objects of improv-| ing the access to the ranges, promoting trips amorg its members and preserving the native flora and| fauna. j • From that day onwards it func-j tioned successfully, never with a| particularly large membership but; always with 30 or 40 enthusiasts toi carry its projects through and con-l duct outings at regular intervals. In that per-iod the members cut some miies of tracks, the more generally known being the Oha,u Track and that to Mount Waiopehu. Their greatest accomplishment was the building of the Ohau and Waiopehu Huts, all the materials for which ha'd to be portered piecej by piece to the sites chosen. On February 2, 1936, a disastrous storm swept the Tararuas during which six young Palmerston North

I men had a desperate struggle on the mountain slopes. Five or them were successful, but one succumbed on the winaswept top of Twin [Peak and was later buried amidst Ithe mountain grandeur. | In that storm the Waiopehu Hut was entireiy swept down the hilljside, the Ohau Hut was crushpd beneath two huge trees, and the ■ Ohau and Waiopehu tracks were : barricaded beyond belief by the forest giants wnich the wind. uprooted. The club set to work, opened the Ohau Track and rebuilt the hut there. It had started on the clearing of the Waiopehu Track wnen Uie war came and, like so many similar bodies, it was foreed into recess. On- March 6, 1946, a meeting was .convened and its ■ activities revived. The initial membership comprised the 14 pre-war trampers who attended the meeting, but their numbers have grown and today the total is 90' odd, an all. time record. The last two years have been-fuli of achievement in the field of developing the facilities for members and trampers generally, and interspersed with the projects undertaken have been many pleasant and well-attended outings. . The track to Mount Waiopehu has, been reopened and a new hut built to replace the one destroyed by the storm, whiie a half-way shelter has been erected along the track. Then, 'early this year, another chapter was added with the building" and opening of a new. hut at the confluence of Butcher's Creek and the south braneh of the Ohau River, apd this is now known as the South Ohau Hut.. The club's is a really fine record gnd -cne of which its members can be justifiably proud.