Salient. An Organ of Student Opinion at Victoria College, Wellington, N.Z. Vol. 10, No. 10. July 16, 1947

Miscellany

Miscellany

The weekend July 4-6 was outstanding for tramping activity. Weather held fine and Sunny stayed at home. The tops of the Tararuas were covered with deep snow.

The official club trip was over the Orongos to Palliser, where Ken Johnstone led about a dozen people. They went In to Tawhai on Friday night, crossed via the Tapokapoka Saddle to pitch tents at the Red Hut, on Saturday night. The return to the Orongos was made down Goat Creek, and so back to the Walnul Valley.

The Biology Society went up from Otaki to Field Hut. We hear that certain of them were seduced from their biological purposes to ski with various Tramping Club types. Others were up at Klme, the ski-ing was good and those who carry skis up there through soft snow deserve better skin than they usually get.

The snows of the Northern Tararuas were also ravished by the large and muddy hoots of VUC trampers. Marshall Laird led a party of five on a trip that aimed at Arete, and actually approached the summit of Pulcema-tawal. Going into Ohau on Friday night, they spent Saturday getting to Te Matawai Hut. That night was surprisingly warm and still; perhaps that was why people left their sacks at 4.30 on Sunday morning with scarcely a groan, and set out for the heights, with torches to assist cloudy moonlight. The slushy track too soon became thigh-deep snow, that hid sharp sticks and tussock, but a brilliant dawn revealed Pukemata-wai, Lancaster and Thompson, looking so tantalising that the party trudged feverishly on till wind-slab made the going dangerous. Arete was obviously impossible in the time available. It was Pukematawai or the train. They missed both.