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Lewis Pass

Saturday 30th.

After being dropped off by the bus, we camped in the Maruia river flats listening to paradise ducks and cars whizzing past.

Sunday.

Discovered wide asphalted track but it didn't go up Rough creek so we left it. Beautiful day, plugged steps through the snow up onto the tops. Amazing view, at lunch time a N.Z. Falcon swooped by ten feet above us, fantastic! Crampons on down icy slope, watched a hare disappear over the edge. Bum slide and waltz down the creek to Lake Christabel hut. Nice hut, but Tim's group not here; but allo allo, here's Wayne.

Note: At night while fanning the fire we discovered that we had a modern frypan with a detachable handle! [it broke]

Monday.

We left the hut on a 'moist' shaded morning for a jaunt up the Blue Grey river and over to Robinson River where we put our S.A.R. expertise into practice and found a lost pair of glasses. Progressed up towards the saddle then through thigh deep snow crawling on hands and knees, in 'refreshing' ice showers on an improvised track. Arriving at the saddle (some three hours late) we were treated to an impressive 360° panorama of white fog. We moseyed on down to Upper Robinson hut for a salami dinner.

Tuesday.

Decided to have a pit day today. On our pit day we arose at 6.30am, strolled up to the tops behind Robby hut and got colder than brass monkeys on the Fox glacier; found some ultra steep snow and ran up and down it in a futile attempt to get warm; bum slid down to the Waiheke in a white out (passing within inches of Harpo's group without actually seeing them); skipped on down the river, getting wetter than a pair of socks in a bucket at the Hermitage and, by this time having fallen hopelessly in love with the Waiheke valley, camped on a deceptively flat pile of boulders at 2000 feet and got snowed on. On the whole a fairly laid-back sort of a day. Very hot salami for dinner.

Wednesday.

It rained most of the night and we left with snow melting on us. Up to Amuri pass with dead toes (eventually finding the track) and down to Doubtless hut, just missing Graeme's group. Sun shining. Started to rain when we hung our gear out to dry. Sandflies and tasty salami for dinner.

Thursday.

A fine day and a delightful walk through beech forest down to Devilskin creek. Meet up with many walking porterhouse steaks. (It's amazing the tenderizing effect ice axes and crampons have!) It was doubtful if Doubtful hut actually existed but we were told later that it actually does (two man biv.). Looked for the infamous Brian Dobbie track up the Devilskin, didn't exist but the route up the true right was fairly good. Reaching the forks in good time we discovered a six year old forestry workers camp where, being outraged at the mess, Ian flogged a frying pan and Mark gained a plate. Rendezvoused with Graeme Speden's group at the saddle (Cat humped Stumpi in the snow), bumslid over cornice and followed a very direct track to the Nina. Tim's group was sharing the hut with the sandflies so Graeme's and our group shared the river flats (with some other sandflies). Salami for dinner, extra hot.

Friday.

Beautiful day. Jaunted down the fantastic Nina river, a few swimming in a deep pool with a shark. Lunch at the roadend. Some hitched to Maruia springs (well three of us squashed into a mini van with packs!) while the other six or so walked for three hours. Hot swim, pies and hamburgers for dinner, games of pool. Slept well. Hot salami, mashed spud, porridge and chocolate instant pud for breakfast on Saturday.

Saturday

After breakfast we caught the bus, watched the rugby at a little pub and ate hamburgers at Picton. Street kids flogged the bus drivers keys, but we were off home.

Excellent trip, love to go back. Thanks to Richard Haverkamp for the organisation The Salami Eaters:

Ian Stimpson (L),	Bruce Craigie
Mark Morris,	Geoff Nichols