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Tramping Club

Tauherenikau-Traraua [sic] Tramp—easter, 1931

The prospects were not very bright for the ten members on this tramp, when the party reached the Chateau Tauherenikau on Thursday night, after travelling two hours in the steady rain. That night the well-built hut was very welcome. Next morning in view of the heavy rain and the flooded Tauherenikau River, the original intention of proceeding to Mt. Holdsworth Mountain House was abandoned. The day was spent indoors gazing with awe as the flooded river gradually rose, and huge logs flashed past on their way to Palliser Bay. The biggest flood in the district for about 25 years is no mean sight. During the afternoon, after discussing religion for several hours, and then spending several more hours watching a stew cook, the time passed very quickly.

On Saturday the party climbed up the Golden Staircase, over Omega, through Hell's Gates, and came to rest in Alpha Hut. After an early tea, the party retired to bed, to be roused about 8.30 p.m. by Denz's bad dream. Then followed a long supper and an entertainment by Riske and others entitled "Communism." Other bed-time stories were ....

The two main themes next morning were "Shorts Lost" and "Shorts Regained." Finally the party left the Hut, climbed Mt. Alpha, and followed the Main Range round the Dress Circle. At this stage the rest of the party waited and shivered while the leader played hide and seek with the Renata Ridge in the mist. After tagging an uninviting place, he asked the rest to follow. Up to this stage the view had been limited to mist, but a break at the opportune time revealed a good view of Mts. Alpha and Quoin, and the Western Hutt River and numerous tributaries on the south. Renata to the west, and Kapakapanui to the north-west. On the north lay the Waiotauru River and branches, bounded by Mt. Hector and the main Tararua Range on the east.

The track then led over Mt. Elder and Mt. Renata and finally joined the Kapakapanui track, where camp was struck.

Next morning when the party had the choice of going to Upper Hutt via Akatarawa, or to Waikanae via Kapakapanui, a hoarse voice strongly advocated (for obvious reasons) the former route. The hoarse voice won.

One consolation of the trip was that as we homeward wound our weary way along the Akatarawa Road, we cheered the heart of many a soul (including Brookie)—and no wonder they laughed.

The trip is noteworthy in that it was the first time an official party had done the Tararua Crossing by that route, and also no woman tramper had been over that route before.