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The Spike or Victoria College Review October 1929

Tramping Club

Tramping Club.

Since the last issue of "Spike," there has been some little excitement in our rather peaceful club. A week-end trip to Dobson's and Smith's Creek gave two club members an opportunity of attempting to view the elusive Totara Flats, and meet the main party on the Sunday. The result is apparently only too well known, but all's well that ends well; it was a wonderful trip, and the pair could give trampers some points on midnight travelling down waterfalls.

Once again our Sunday trips have been marred on account of bad weather, and it was found necessary to cancel three of them. This is unfortunate, since some of our members cannot always manage to get away for week-end trips.

The tramp to Papatahi was in the nature of a farewell trip, being the last trip on which Mr. F. White was out with the club prior to his departure for England with a Science Scholarship. We wish him the best of success there, but we miss his cheery countenance very much on our tramps. We understand that "Bill" Joliffe has returned to New Zealand, however, and we hope that he may come out with us and help to compensate for losses which the club can ill-afford.

The tramp to Karapoti did not appeal to a large number, but those who did go made the best of a wet Sunday by lying in bed most of the morning, while one of the party served morning tea. It is rumoured that certain mysterious photographs were taken on this trip, and it is to be hoped that they will appear in some pages of photographic atrocities shortly to be released by one of the members.

Sunday trips to Fitzroy Bay and Lowry Trig in good weather were well attended, and we were pleased to see some new members turn out on these trips.

The trip to Kapakapanui had to be cancelled, and in its place a tramp over Baker's track to the Lower Orongorongo was substituted. This trip proved an unqualified success in all respects, especially to those who went hunting for a lost wristlet watch in the bush—and found it. Our scramble round a waterfall in the dark proved a rather slow business, and one of our members (unintentionally) tried the faster method of going "over the top." Our return up the hill on the Sunday in half-an-hour was a triumph, and the record is likely to stand for some years to come.

At the end of the term the Totara Flats were again in the foreground. One of the pioneers on the original trip could not come, and at the last minute Professor Boyd-Wilson, the leader, was also obliged to draw out. The party was therefore entrusted to the tender (?) mercies of the secretary. The weather played up frightfully, but we determined to carry on with the trip, and seven hopeful members started out. prepared for the worst. Unfortunately, the bad weather continued, and an attempt to climb Mount Holdsworth from the Mount House had to be abandoned. However, we pushed on down the little southern creek, and—wonder of wonders—we were soon at the Totara Flats and warming ourselves in front of a huge fire at the hut there. As the bad weather still persisted, we were forced to return over the Dalefield track, and arrived at Carterton in page 61 good time to see the train pulling out of the station. However, the Railway Department took pity on us, and kindly arranged to let us travel over to town on the night goods train, so we eventually arrived home in the small hours of the morning after a very wet, but splendid trip.

The third term opened with a trip round to the little Mukamuka and up over Tapokapoka. We tackled this tramp in a business-like manner, and with a good start at 4.30 a.m. on the Sunday morning, covered the ground in good style, and actually had time to walk along to the boat—a rare occurrence.

The Sunday tramp to Mount Maunganui proved a great success. This trip was entirely new to members (including the leader, as usual), and we felt very satisfied at reaching our objective without a hitch. The view of the Tararuas obtained from the top was itself worth the trip. The country round here appears to have great possibilities, and we hope to be able to arrange further trips in the district later on.

In conclusion, we would remind members that as it is probable that trips will be held during the vacation, those desiring to be kept in touch with the activities of the club should leave their addresses with the Secretary.