TO THE SUMMIT OF WAIOPEHU

Shannon News, 28 February 1928, Page 3

TO THE SUMMIT OF WAIOPEHU

LADIES’ WEEK-END TRIP

A REVELATION OF SCENIC

BEAUTIES

(From the. Levin Chronicle)

Among those who recently spent a night at the Hut on Mount Waiopehu was the Mayoress of Levin, Mrs Hobson, who has written for the Chronicle an entertaining ac- * count of the outing, and has demonstrated that the pleasures of mountaineering are not for the younger generation alone. The Mayoress has now become an active member of the Levin-Waio-pehu Club, which has been responsible for opening up Levin’s particular mountain to climbers.

Mv trip to Waiopehu was to be quite "sub rosa,”; for one reason I did not' know whether I should be lucky 7 em ough to get as far as the top, and another that I might require numerous rests on the way up, which might not be agreeable to other members oj. . a tramping party. However, I got there and back with;out any serious happenings, arid Mr. Lancaster has asked me to give my impressions of the vrip; he was much :UO polite to say, "That if 1 could gel as. lar.as the summit, he was sure anyone else could,” but you will judge from results that the outing is not by any menus exclusive to the younger generatioi; It was not the best of wea.her when we started—the mountains were very misty —but our plans had beer, made, and we hoped for better things, so Mrs Mackenzie drove us out to the Pipe Bridge about 10 o’clock on the Saturday morning. Her two girls and my two, who had already been up and were to act as guides, and myself con stituted the "party.” We carried our belongings in proper swag fashion, leaving the blankets at the bridge for Clive to bring up in the afternoon. There was no turning back after wc went into the Bush. The "Great Adventure” had begun! I think the track is splendid; well-defined with blazed trees until near the top, where there are sticks to point out the way. Ol course one must not stray from it, or disaster will result. Only those who have been through the bush have any idea of the beauties thereof —wonderful tall trees of all kinds, glorious tree-ferns, banks of kidney ferns, some of these immense trees being covered with them the whole length of the trunk; clumps of fern everywhere, including huge Prince of Wales or Crepe ferns —and there is not much undergrowth to impede the tramper. The first, part of the journey is easily the most trying; very steep climbing until past Palmer’s Camp. I fervently hoped it was not going to be like it all the way! , We lunched at Palmer’s Camp. IMo not know exactly what visions I had conjured up of this much-talked-of place —but I will not make any remarks about it!

After lunch, much refreshed and liaving got my second ivind, and feeling more in tramping form, ayc kept steadily on, Avith very feAv stops, aiul the remainder of the journey Avas'not nearly so trying. In one part of the bush, the trees are covered Avith long trailing mosses, Avhich are. rather Aveird, remind ing me of the pictures in "Grimm’s Fairy Tales.” One could easily ima-\ gine that the stories could be true in such surroundings. Shouts from those ahead told us that the hut Avas in sight, and it Avas not long before avc were safe under its avclr;ome roof—time, about 4 o’clock. Wr soon had a fire going, thanks to the dry Avood left in the hut, but Avere near ly smoked .out until Clive arrived and removed the lid off the chimney and avc could breathe again!

We had tea and .then amused ourselves playing cards, as it had come on to rain and we could not go out ex ploring. Wo made a “field bed” with the dry moss out- of the tent, had a board. covered with moss for a pill-ow. and all went to bed fully clothed, and slept until daylight. After breakfast we set off for the

“Top.” The rain had ceased and we had a wonderful view all round, but unfortunately the mist closed up—it was quite a sight to see it chasing round tiie mountains. When we reached

the top there was no view at all, but we had the satisfaction of getting there and leaving our record on the summit of Mt. Waiopehu. The lugiiest parr of''the mountain is covered with lea-ther-leaf and snow pine, and a lovely little white flower like nemesia bedded the ground. Some places were like terraces with masses of white flowers and there were lots of celmisias and other native flowers everywhere. We returned to the Hut, had lunch. 1 idied up and started for home about 1 o’clock. Soon afterwards it began to rain and never ceased for three hours. We were all soaked to the skin, and the track was very slushy, but no one complained. At one of the lookouts; we saw Levin and the surrounding country bathed in sunshine, while we were being bathed in rain. We were ’ sorry that the farmers were not getting lit instead of us. We came out c.f the ( bush before five. I felt as if I had I been away m another world; it was ) good to see the familiar landmarks, i

I All the garments that could be con--1 venicntlv removed were taken off and j the water wrung out of them and they were then hung up on the bushes, and 'we sat around to dry too. The heat i was intense, so it was not long before we were ready to move on again. Mr and Mrs Mackenzie were Avaiting for us. I think they Avere quite relieved to see -their girls safe and sound. I knoAv Avliat it is to be Avaiting at home while the family is swalloAved up in the hills. After hot baths and a good night's rest we Avere ready to start the Aveek again, none the Avorse for our adventures. The hut Avas not finished Avhen avc were there, but is noAv completed, hav- , ing two rooms with bunks in" both, and

above all, a tank. The excursion for water was quite the worst experience on the trip. It remains now for those who use the hut to treat it well, and keep the surroundings tidy, for I can judge for myself what a contract it has been to get all the material - to such a height.