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Salient. An Organ of Student Opinion at Victoria College, Wellington, N.Z. Vol. 2, No. 16. August 2, 1939

Tramping

Tramping

Winter Crossing

It didn't cross, When a happy band of trampers scrambled aboard the lorry at 8 a.m. on Saturday. 22nd. little did they dream that twenty hours later they would still be slogging through the snow and rain-soaked bush, fording swollen streams and sliding down gravel-slides to the accompanied roaring of a Hooded river a few hundred feet below.

Two hours after a good start found the party at Dobson's with the incendiarist hard at work. The hot refreshments soon disappeared and the party launched out-on their real work at 12.30 p.m. The snow quickly increased from one to two feet. The patches of open bush were of no use as the drifts sometimes exceeded 6 feet, and the party spent much time in sidling these hummocks. Darkness found the group still making large holes in the snow and it was unanimously decided that one of Bob's bulldozers would be a good idea. However, they continued in the hope that a frost would crust the surface but this was not to be. The party was very grateful to McNaught and Oliver for the way in which they helped in the arduous task of trail-breaking and in the incessant hunt for blazes.

Food—sleep

Progress reports at 10.15 p.m. told of a few torches on Blk, XVI and soon they were wending their way into the Tauherenikau Valley, having abandoned their attempt to reach Alpha. Progress reports then failed as the operator had too much trouble in keeping awake but it is said that on their arrival at the hut seven hours later—5.15 a.m.—a few still had the energy to strike up a song.

They were the only things that mattered. The necessity of sleep was almost too strong but later in the day the party made and had the utmost pleasure in eating their meal; it lasted for two hours, off and on.

The return lorry trip showed that the well-earned rest had revived the frayed spirits for the singing had both volume and variety.

Korokoro—Porirua

Twenty-five members of the Tramping Club turned out for the Korokoro-Porirua Sunday trip recently. After some counting and recounting it transpired that the leader was calculating the cheapest way to travel from Lambton to Petone. The fare having been arrived at (namely 7½d per head) the party boarded the bus and save for a stop at Kaiwarra to pick up a further member, did not stop until Korokoro. Here the party left the bus and set off on the track, the track incidentally leading to two reservoirs. Upon arrival at the second reservoir a halt was called and a billy boiled and lunch eaten, during lunch the usual roll call and introduction taking place, the remainder of the lunch hour being spent in appreciating the actions and reactions of the Weta and its young.

To Belmont Trig

After lunch three members departed for the Belmont "Trig" via a supplejack-clad hillside, the remainder of the party bearing to the left and tackling the gorse-clad heights, both parties arriving at their respective ridges, being approximately the same height, although some miles away from each other. Both parties then commenced the descent and eventually arrived on the same leading ridge. A quick descent was then made down the slopes and a short trudge up a metal road, which in turn led on to the hills surrounding Porirua, eventually arriving at a watered valley with ample supplies of firewood. Presently a roaring fire was blazing and the billy boiling.

The party then made its way to the Porirua Railway Station and arrived approximately three quarters of an hour before the train was due to leave: having changed, the party then explored the immediate precincts of the station until such time as the train was due.

Dawn Croxton and Doris Johannes son, of the Table Tennis Club, recently represented Wellington in a match against Auckland. So far no men from the "Varsity Club have won rep. honours.