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Heels 1965

The Three Pass Trip - Jany. '65

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The Three Pass Trip - Jany. '65.

In mid-January we left Wellington on the Christchurch Ferry and the next day persuaded the guard to let us off the rail car at the Bealy Bridge, a couple of miles east of Arthur's Pass. We intended to reach the Anticrow Hut that night. After about one and a half hours tramping we found a hut, we congratulated ourselves on our fitness, but in the morning, we discovered Anticrow Hut about ten minues further up the valley. We moved our gear from the six bunk Forestry Hut we were in and with Anticrow Hut as our base we climbed Mottram Peaks which afforded a fine view of the Upper Waimak' and the Arthur's Pass peaks in good weather. The weather was good, hot, cloudless and calm. Next day from the head of the Crow River we gained a closer view of Rolleston. That night we trudged up to Carrington. Barker Hut with its surrounding glaciers sounded more attractive than the Upper Waimak' and so having dumped unnecessary food, we went up the White River. There was no Hut to be seen. The maps were consulted, but the leader was convinced by bitter experience that Huts are always at the heads of rivers. She pointed to a lump of rock more than 1,000 ft. above and said "It's probably behined that." After much scrambling round the valley sides, we finally clambered up the rock and there behind it was the hut very well constructed and very close indeed to the summits of four or more peaks.

We camped the next night on Harman Pass and watched the clouds roll up from the west. Of course it rained - and, although Whitehorn Pass proved no difficulty it was a long slow trudge to Park Morpeth Hut on the Wilberforce. It rained, then it thundered, then it snowed! - we read, we played cards and guessing games, but mostly talked. The conflicting ideas of the party members and the differences in tastes made for interesting discussion. After two days we had exhaused even the penny drad-fuls and althogh Browning Pass was deep in snow we went on to a new hut on the Arahura at Harman Creek - a new hut with rubber mattresses. It had rained constantly all day and so we saw little, except a lone seagull, stranded on a tiny lake on the top of Browning Pass. We offered him a ride to the sea, but he didn't understand and disappeared into the mists squawking mournfully. Hughie was better behaved and the next morning we looked out at a fairy-tale drawing of Christmas, snow lying over the hills, and coating every tree. It wasn't quite so pleasant later in the bush when snow fell off down our necks.

The Styx, its swampy saddle deseves its name, is a pretty river and only one part of it we would want changed - the bastard grass which was very thick on some parts of the track. There are about three forestry huts in the valley but we cound Pasocoe's Guide Book, although generally reliable, completely out of date for this section of the trip.

We were sorry to leave Lake Kaniere, but Hokitika was also full of interest, and was one place where tramping clothes, even after a Chrisstmas trip are scarely noticed by the populace. And so the trip ended with the final show of feathers as Philip emerged from his burst sleeping bag for the last time. This trip was made especially enjoyable by the good relationships of its members. On a long trip it is perhaps essential to have good personal relationships within the party.

Vivien, Helen, Margaret, Stephan, Peter Jameson & Philip Thompson.