Spencer's (August)

Party: Steve Reid (leader), Roger Lockwood, Barbara Wallace, margaret macpherson, Les. Molloy, Murray McKenzie, Mike [unclear: Heenen], Phil Laird.

Although this trip was easy [unclear: it] was very good preparation for a wearing third term. We walked round Lake Rotoiti at night in 21/2 hours after a long trip from Wellington. The next day the weather cleared and we pushed up the Travers to John Tait Hut. The going was through flats, some Beech bush with Mt. Travers looming up ahead. The next day we rose early & dumped packs at [unclear: hi-ouo] Creek which gave good access basin leaving to Cupola and Travers. From here we climbed steep snow ut: the side of Travers, Cupola was magnificent with mist swirling round, her [unclear: Listening] head. M. Mike and I climbed to the end of the narrow summit, saw the Upper Travers Hut, our destination some 3,500 feet straight below, and [unclear: ridge] upon ridge of snow to the east, we descended by the Same route to our packs and hurried off to upper Travers

This hut, at about 4,000 feet is surrounded by 7,000 ft. peaks. The face of Travers was particularly impressive in it's show and mere so later when the moon illuminated it. The next day was our finest and we went over the 6,000 ft.

pass to the Sabine. We stopped about two hours on the showline in a warm and sheltered spot with Mt. Franklyn just accross the way, thenmoved off down through easy bush to the track, leading over a spectacular gorge to the Sabine Forks Hut. The next day was raining so we cancelled a prospective trip up the West Sabin and headed down to Lake [unclear: Rotoro]. The trip was tedious in the rain [unclear: but] the [unclear: bush] and flats were larger than in the Travers. Sabine Hut on the [unclear: snores] of the lake was up to scratch, plenty of firewood, springs and mattresses. Next day was also rather doubtful so Murry and Roger went round the lake to summon the launch while the others finished of one food.

Four of us pludged down the West Coast to Arthur's pass in royal style and the others returned through Blenheim in similar way.

S. J. R.