Visit to National Park

On Saturday, August 22, the Tramping Club party for National Park left under the leadership or Mr. C. W. Stewart. They left, hopeful of fine weather and generally looking forward to a week in the mountain district. There was mountain air in plenty, but little or no fine weather.

The train trip was, as usual, dirty and tiring, and 20 haggard souls arrived at the Chateau in the early hours, there to await the arrival of the lorry with baggage, packs, skis, etc. It was nearly four before huts were allocated and the souls retired for the night.

The next day—one of the comparatively fine days of the stay—found most of the male members staggering up to Salt Hut, laden with skis and gear. Three hours' sleep is too little on which toi undertake even the moderate trip to Salt Hut. A day on the "hill"and back to our foodless camp Sacrificing efficiency for safety, comfort and economy, the N.Z.R. had not delivered our food! This dismal state existed for two days, and it was not until Tuesday that we had our first square meal.

When the rain, snow and sleet set in, a few hardy souls braved the elements to ski on the slopes. In the evenings, with the fervour of anglers, these would boast of their mastery of the Christie or stem turns, or how they avoided this or that rock. The last three days were the worst of the week, and it was almost impossible to ski with much success-visibility was not more than 20 yards, with almost continual snow.

Ski-ing did not occupy all the time, and various trips were made on off days. National Park abounds in places of beauty and interest, all within easy walking distance. There are the Mahuria Rapids, the Matariki Falls, the Tama Lakes, all of them well worth a visit. Two keen members made a long day's trip to Waitepouri Hut, about 18 miles.

On the last day our hopes were realised and it was possible to ski right down to the Chateau from Salt Hut. Unofrtunately, the V.U.C. party were almost the last to leave the hut, and Nature turned on a blizzard. Under the existing condition skis would have been more useful attached to other portions of the anatomy.