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Heels 1962

An Easter Salube

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An Easter Salube

Part I: A veil will be drawn over this part. Suffice it to say that a party of 7 lost 4 by various means and gained one - he just happened to arrive.

Part II: The activities of part I landed 4 people - Les McLachlan, Peter Barry, Fraser Walls and Janice de Lisle - in Tauherenikau hut on Easter Monday night. Two days to fill in, plenty of food, (salube rations) and only a jaunt to Cone, in order to return some property, projected. Obviously some exercise was indicated.

"Let's do something mad," said Fraser. Accordingly we decided to stroll up Bull Mound after visiting Cone and spend Tuesday night at Alpha. Not that we thought this mad, we just couldn't think of anything better (or worse, depending on how you look at these things) at the time.

Tuesday morning saw a leisurely 10.30am start. Halfway up to Cone Les had an idea. He thought: clear skies + full moon + party arriving at Alpha about 7 p.m. = Moonlight southern. = moonlight southern + sleep out on Hector, corrected Peter. This plan was mad enough to satisfy Fraser and too mad for Jan’s liking, but after a certain amount of gentle persuasion she agreed.

Some x hours after leaving Tauherenikau hut (x→ ∞) we reached Cone, returned the hut property and started off up Bull Mound. The views of the Main Range obtained from the top of Bull Mound were wonderful. We arrived at Alpha about 7.30, had tea (salube rations) and packed to a chorus of "you're all mad" supplied by the other occupants. We were away again by 10.00.

By the time we reached the top of Alpha we were all convinced that we weren't in the least mad. Clear skies and bright moonlight made the use of torches completely unnecessary.

From the top of the Dress Circle we could see the lights of Wellington, the Hutt Valley and the Wairarapa. At 1.30 a.m. on Anzac Day 1962 we reached the top of Hector and held a pre—dawn Memorial service by the Cross. After several hours' sleep we were awake again to watch the sun rise.

Breakfast cooked from the sack lasted until 10.00 but finally we were forced to get up, pack and move off. Several hours later, following a pleasant stroll, we reached Otaki Forks and commenced the trek out to Otaki. page break Then followed the most unsuccessful afternoon's bludging any of us had ever experienced - the end of a perfect weekend.

Party: Les Mclachlan, Hugo Manson, Anthony Williams, Sarah Pascoe, Linda Redmond, Janice de Lisle, Fraser Walls, Peter Barry.