TARARUAS CROSSED

Evening Post, Volume CXVIII, Issue 101, 26 October 1934, Page 15

TARARUAS CROSSED

EXTREMELY YOUNG HIKERS

Probably tho youngest girls who have crossed the Tararua Rango are Judith Ffitch and Sydney Bowron, both thirteen years of ago, who, with Mrs. R. G. C. Ffiteh, were members of a party of seven which crossed from Otaki Forks to Kaitoke last weekend.

An early start was mado from Otaki Forks on Saturday morning, and the day was spent in a leisurely tramp first to Fields Hut, and then on to Kime Hut (4600 ft). The weather was perfect, and as the higher levels were reached, wonderful views wero obtained of the Manawatu Plains, tho Northern Tararuas, the Wairarapa Plains, and the South Island from its northernmost point down as far as the Kaikouras, with Wellington Harbour a.nd Somes Island showing up clearly in the nearer distance. Snow fell during a very cold night at Kime Hut on Saturday, but the weather improved, and an early start was made on Saturday morning for Alpha Hut, over Mount Hector (5016 ft). Here the snow was nearly an inch in depth, and for the next few hours the routo was along the tops of the ranges covered with a thin coating of snow. The usual ! mist was encountered along the tops, j but frequently it lifted temporarily and the sun shone through to disclose beautiful vistas of bush and tussock-clad valleys looking charming in lovely j shades of green and brown, and occa- ! sional glimpses of tho more distant plains of tho Manawatu and the Wairarapa. Alpha Hut .was reached in good time, and lunch there was followed by the long descent over Bull Mound to the Tauherenikau River. Here ' three deer were seen, and two kakas were disturbed and screeched noisily overhead in tho treetops. These birds are very rarely seen in the Tararuas now. The party camped in the Tauherenikau River bed on Sunday night, by a huge log fire, and on Monday continued down to the "Chateau, "as the beauti-fully-situated hut of the Tararua Tramping Club is familiarly known, and then on through the majestic forest trees of Smith's Creek, with clematis in large festoons always in sight, and over the saddle to Kaitoke.

Bird life was comparatively scarce compared with what it used to bo in this locality eight or ten years ago. Tuis, once plentiful, were only infrequently heard, but the party was seldom out of hearing of the beautiful song of the bellbird, and occasionally the plaintive haunting cry of the shining cuckoo was heard. Pigeons, though not uncommon, are less numerous than they were. The tramp was made in good weather conditions, but is not one that should bo undertaken by those of the gentler sex unused to long tramps with packs, and it is necessary to be well prepared for bad weather, and to be accompanied by someone who knows the route well.