A FAST TRAMP

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 115, 12 November 1930, Page 6

A FAST TRAMP

WOODSIDE-OTAKI

RECORD BROKEN

Tlic record for the Taiarua trussing from "Wall's Whnrc, Woodsido, to the Otaki Forks -was ogam lowered on Sunday, when ]\[r. D. T. Sinclair, of Wellington, registered the fast time of 7 hours 11 minutes, an' improvement of 23 minutes on tlic previous record made last March by himself and Mr. H. B. Gray. Tho new figure was established in | spite of unfavourable conditions, the chief of' those being the sodden nature iof the track, clue to the melting of snow which has lingered on tlic Tara'ruas unusually late this year. Although |most*-of'the snow has now gone, occasional drifts still remain, sonic of them I lying across the route for a distance of , thirty or forty yards and varying in depth from - one to two feet. Further elements-retarding speed were a strong southerly wind, from which there was but little protection on the high levels, and a thick mist which gave poor visibility over a considerable portion of tho jouracv. ,llad it not "been i'or these factors," there-is little doubt that the time would have becu reduced to well under seven hours, V start from AVall's Whare was madeat'o.l a.m., and tho top of Mt. Beeves (2949 feet) was reached in one hour 17 minutes. Atmospheric conditions at this stage were perfect, providing an excellent view Of the southern portion of the range, including Mt. Hector (5016 feet), over, which the route lay. From Mt Beeves tho descent-of nearly 2000 feet to tho Tauhercnikau River occupied 25 minutes. Then followed tho long zigzag climb of 2300 feet to Bull Mound, thence to the Alpha Hut, which was reached at 8.20 a.m., the total time thus, far being 15 minutes better than the previous record. _ i ' After a brief stay of eleven minutes ;»t Alpha Hut,1 the climb to Mt. Hector was commenced.-Tho fog was now well down'over the range, and tho wind was I freshening, making rapid progress dififieult. Despite these handicaps the summit was reached in tho good time lot' 1 hour 31 minutes. In. the long des-e'e-nt td the Otaki Forks the heaviest some of all was encountered. Many of tho flat water-logged stretches, both on tho meadowland and in the bush, werehv places almost knee-deep. These made very exhausting work, and the time of 2 hours 10 minutes for tho descent was exceptionally good. The completion oi this stage concluded the crossing the, Otaki Forks being reached at 12 mini^lnSitio^to Mr. Sinclair's record !trip during tho week-end, a party of nine (including three ladies) made the crossing from Ivaitoke to Otaki, wing two Hampers 'crossed from the Otaki side. "