Heels 1974

East Holdsworth Plus Nothing

"Another typical Gilman trip. 7 people, 3 different trips. Total chaos from start to finish".

Oh, not really. It was just that people kept changing their minds. Except for Ken, he was fairly consistent. But it was the weather really - given a fine weekend there would have been more enthusiasm all round, I reckon".

"Yeah, it required a bit of willpower to take the long way to Mountain House when the rain was fair hissing down and we were at the bottom of the short cut, eh. Not that we intended to stay at Mountain House though..."

"But not knowing the ridge to Mt Waiohine it would have been easy to foul that one up. And we didn't have much time to waste really".

"No, we did take a fair while to get to Mountain House. Over 4 hours from the bottom of East Holdsworth wasn't it? Pretty slow really".

"Well, steady uphill, what can you expect? Still, the draggiest bit was along the top to Holdsworth proper. Took longer than you'd expect from the map, eh."

"Yeah, snow and sleet tend to make a tops trip drag a bit. Compass bearings take time too. And then there was that tarn that nobody recognised - momentary doubt in one or two minds, I bet."

"That was about it then. Straight downhill run to Powell, brew and thaw, then down to Mountain House to rejoin Ken and Chris."

"Fancy being in pit at mid-afternoon; Downright decadent. No fire either - in spite of them having come up the shortcut from the Atiwhakatu and being there by lunchtime."

"But Mt Waiohine wouldn't have been much fun really. Not as nice as hitting pit and having tea in bed. Mmmm. Pity that it turned out fine on Sunday though. Made our slow trip down to the Lodge look a bit small, eh."

"Don't forget Ian's sterling effort - going back to the top for the view. And Rod and Ken's intended mad dash for Kaitoke. Pity that piked too."

"Sore feet was the excuse, I think".

"Once again, last minute mind-changing. It gives you wonderful freedom of action, this Gilman system, but not much is ever achieved as far as I can see."

"Oh I dunno. Isn't 11 kilometres of roadwalking an achievement?"

Rod Gilman, Ken Taylor, John Black, Chris Mitchell, Alec Hobbs, Ian Lieuhert, Jane Forsyth

Jane

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