TRAMPING

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 388, 24 November 1932, Page 7

TRAMPING

ROTORUA CLUB ENJOYS A HIKE TO LAKE OKATAINA. Hiking seems to be quite the thing of the moment, and judging from the interesting review Mrs. H. Gribble gave those who were present at the Women's Club social evening last Thursday, it is a most pieturesque and enjoyable way of seeing the beauties which are all around us, and which, viewed from a point from which the transport by motor is barred, takes on an increased appeal to the hiker. "The beauties of Lake Okataina are known to most people, but few other than deer-stalkers have been fortunate enough to gaze upon it from the wooded heights of its south-western shores," said Mrs. Gribble. From here its green, sparkling waters and winding bays are a delight to behold." Shortly after 6 o'clock one: morning recently a party of eight enthusiastic trampers set out on a long* trip which took them over Mt. Pukepoto to Lake Okataina, across country to Lake Okareka, and from there over the hills to the Wairoa Road and honre, a distance of approximately 26 miles, occupying about 13 hours. The way led through some beautiful bush, and even the muddy state of the track failed to dim the vision to the glorious green of Tane's kingdom. To cheer them on their way over the toughest parts of the track, humorous tales and songs kept the spirits of the party in excellent order. Once through the bush and up a bracken-covered slope, a most entranj cing pictura of Okataina lay spread j before the eyes. Even grim Tarawera, | showing slightly to the right, garhed j in a misty blue eloak, appeared less | forbidding than usual — in fact a sinister beauty in this mountain lay revealed. After another stiff climb the pangs of hunger monopolised the entire party, and a murmuring stream at the foot of a grassy valley inviting the boiling of the billy was a welcome discovery. Lunch having heen dispensed with, a craving for green fields and pastures new was evident and into the bush once more the party plunged where the ground was thickly carpeted with fallen blossoms of the konini. It was a change to follow an up and down hill bush track after the brackencovered hjlls, but most annoying to thirsty trampers to find an invitinglooking erevice at the hottom of a gully bone-dry, and as one memher expressed it, "a real washout." An easy track round to Bald Hill j revealed Okareka grey and still in the I late afternoon. A pause was made, but the discovery that there was still a long tramp before them urged the party forward. Regretfully leaving the tranquil lake, another stiff ascent j brought them in sight of Rotorua once i more, and a final three-mile route | march along the road — singing helpj ing tired f'eet along — brought the | eight energetic scorners of cushioned ease safely home once more.