V.U.C. Stag Party Crosses Northern Tararuas

"This is my story, this is my song,
Adkin's to Holdsworth is too bloody long!"

—Traditional Air.

Easter was spent by Varsity trampers in diverse ways. Of course some were at Tournament, but we believe that the fact that they were trampers did not materially affect the allocation of championship points or the award of the Horn Trophy. Another well-known tramper spent his time preparing his morning talk on Climbing in the Southern Alps. Congratulations, Mr. Saker. on your retrospective appointment to membership of the Alpine Club. The collection of irresponsible hoodlums, well known to Mr. de la Mare, chose Tauherenikau for their Easter orgy. The Tramping Club hereby officially disowns them.

Serious trampers, however, made a successful Northern Tararua crossing. This is no mean feat—it was first done one Easter in the early thirties by two parties, one from the Tararua Club and one VUC, travelling in opposite directions.

This time, a party of twenty-two travelled by lorry to Adkin's cottage, near Levin, on Thursday night. Some, in fond memory of recent experiences in the Southern Alps, rose on two consecutive mornings at 3.30 a.m., thereby causing some annoyance to the more moderate.

Te Matawai Hut was reached during the afternoon—by 5 p.m. it was fully packed, but by regulated breathing and clever head and tail alignment, everyone was accommodated, albeit many slept on the hard, cold, wet, stony. dirty floor. The early risers were well rewarded next morning, being greeted by the sunrise from the summit of Pukematawai. The later party was greeted by the mist, which soon covered the whole range, reducing the visibility to a stone's throw. After Barney Butchers and John Scott had made an epic ascent of Mts. Lancaster and Thompson, the party reunited to struggle over the Waiohine Pinnacles and along Tarn Ridge to [unclear: Girdlestone]. It was dining the ascent of this latter mound that the theme song, printed above, was most popular.

Lunch was accompanied by rain and cold, which did not, however, deter three alpine types from setting off in the very general direction of Mt. Holds-worth. The remainder pressed on regardless, and soon arrived at a bump on the ridge which they were informed was Mitre. After posing for a photo on this the highest of the Tararua peaks, they continued along the tops to be suddenly confronted by a sheer wall of rock—a good hundred feet higher. Another two hours brought them to the Mitre Flats Hut. the floor of which was soon strewn with the bodies of exhausted but well-fed trampers.

Five set out on Sunday for home, the remainder spending the day in such decadent activities as bridge-building, making sausage haggis, roasting venison, playing bridge, discussing the dialectics of pornography and playing chess with the portable set carried by Frank Evison in a brass-bound box.

In the meantime the three alpine types, Geoff Milne, George Lowe and Alec McLeod, having made a high camp on the South King, were basking in the sun as they strolled along the ridge to Holdsworth. Broken Axe Pinnacles provided an interesting mud-climb, and they were treated to the unique scene of the Wairarapa shrouded in mist while the tops were clear. Powell Hut was reached at 3 p.m., some venison was bludged, but it was decided to sleep at the Mountain House. Next day they rejoined the main party at the truck.

Monday morning, while the main body was being washed down the Waingawa River, John Ziman, Bernie Sewdlund, and Frank Evison climbed on to Baldy, and scrambled' down a free and easy path to the lorry, guided by ride shots from the leader. (The rifle was intended for the provision of fresh meat, but in the hands of the Chief Guide, met with no success.)