Trampers Absorb Beauty Of Tararuas

Chronicle (Levin), 22 July 1948, Page 7

Trampers Absorb Beauty Of Tararuas

Although -no official outing was set down for members of the Levin- j Waiopehu Tramping Club last : weekend, the'lure of the mountains was too much for several members to spend the day at home, and eventuallv a mixed party of 12 found their way back to the trackcutting area on Waiopehu Ridge to; continue with the deviation work, which has now reached an inter-j esting stage. With the winter weather at its; best, further good progress was;' made, aimost completing a new and : level track from Palmer's Camp to ; the main ridge. There still remains some three rniles of track to reno— vate, but the section finished has i eliminated many difficult parts. | Up to this point the views ob- 1 tained of the Horowhenua plains, ; : the lakes and the township are most striking. It is surprising how few citizens avail themselves of a visit to these areas, which are right at Levin's back door. A most enjoyable and easy trip can be made by young and old to at least Palmer's Camp, through Is miles of i

beautiful native bush, that has aimost wholly escaped the storm damage. This camp site is noted for its small fresh water stream, which is seldom found on a ridge, and it has provided refreshments for many even in the driest of summers. As the first mile of this track isj practically level, one can observe j with ease the great variety of trees j from the smallest ferns to the giant ratas, intermingled with an abundance of tree ferns and undergrowth typical of the Tararua bush.' . Next Sunday a trip will be made from Arapaepae to Shannon via the foothills. The leader of the party will be Mr. Les Edwards, and the return journey will be made by train. On August 1 there will be a, working party to the Waiopehu j Track, where there is still room for much improvement. The leader will be Miss Treve Nockels. ' , Always popular in the past, a trip to Rangiwahia for ski-ing has been planned for August 7 and 8. The track to the ski-ing grounds winds through beautiful bush for about limiles. The Young People's Club is holding a dance for the Horowhenua visitors on the Saturday night. A small party led by Mr. Ross Bargrove will make a crossing of the Tararuas, f-rom Otaki to Upper Hut, on August 21 and 22. A visit to Mount Hector is also planned | for this weekend.