CLIMBING PIRONGIA

Waipa Post, Volume 51, Issue 3681, 4 November 1935, Page 8

CLIMBING PIRONGIA

YOUTH SHOWS THE WAY. A LABOUR DAY “HIKE.” (By “White-Paw.”) Labour Day, the day that is generally recognised.as the opening of the outdoor activity season for the brotner and sisterhood of Scouting, was nobly celebrated by a party of Rangers from Cambridge combining with a Te Awamutu Group party including the Rovers, to make an ascent of rirongia range. We reached the head of the road a„ 10.40 after many a thrill, including the navigation of the “mud-hole where the lady-skipper disappointed bv not getting stuck and the passing of another car that had shaken its bonnet at the climb with a very emphatic “No.” After fifteen minutes walk to the bush-line, a halt was called while I filled the billies, but when the two gallons of water put in an appearance (whether by design or not we won’t say) half the party had disappeared on the track ahead. About four hundred yards along the trail lan and I overtook Pat, Sid and another (all Rangers) who said the party in front were going as thong'd to break records. The rain ot the previous week had made the ground rather soggy, consequently we found the going heavier than usual. We made three stops in the. first half and took one photograph ot the Group resting against a rotten log'. Just after taking the photograph we heard the sounds of another party behind so we decided to leave the track and take a straight (?) line for a point higher up on the regular loute. We soon found we had made a mistake in doing this as we got in amongst supplejacks, which cut down the pace to such a degree that we struck the trail again less than twenty yards in front of the others. We pushed on at a quicker pace and scon drew away while the party behind rested. The only worry lan and I experienced was caused through the weight of the water which was lightened above the pig-wallows by each person having a drink. From now on the climb grew “stiffer and consequently everyone was glad when the summit was seen through the trees. I had developed an ache about the region of my body that tells of dinner-time and another in the part that had come in close contact with a rock at/the finish of an amateur slide. With fifty feet left to climb, Sid, who had been convulsed with laughter at other’s misfortune, complained of wonky knees, and let me tell you if you could have obtained a movie of her and Doreen on that last stage and entitled it “Legs that refuse to do as bidden,” you would have been assured of packed houses for the showing. . , The other party arrived on top while we were having dinner and they, together with a party of St. Patrick’s Troop, brought the total number of people on the peak to 51. After taking four more photographs, and dinner being finished, we decided to cross to the trig. The way is short but has a. very abrupt slope. Mid-way between the peaks is a stone face which marks the place where Te Rau crossed Pirongia on his trek from

Kawhia. The trig was found to have collapsed, and no wonder, as the wind was blowing at hurricane force, so much so that it was an effort to remain upright. The view was restricted by low-lying clouds. Generally the boundaries to the sight are the East and West Coast, National P_ark in the south, Egmont, Kawhia and Raglan westward, and M.t. Eden in the north. After two unsuccessful attempts _at signalling from peak to peak, owing to the wind snatching the flags away from the sender, we decided to return, which we did after the way of Farson, or as we thought, for many slipped and many fell. Back on the first peak we found the billy boiling and the tea beingmade, which, thanks to St. Pat’s, soon made spirits warmer. As rain was blowing up, we packed up and made tracks for the bottom. The descent was not without it humourous incident with everyone wondering how far they were going to get without sitting down. At the busli-line, commonly called the base cr depot, we retired to the creek for a wash-down, including face, hands, legs and feet, from which many yards of dirt were washed. Arriving back at the cars at 3.45 p.m., we found the other party had left. Coming to the mud-hole, we once again ploughed through, only this time the mud was deeper and Sid’s car presented a different aspect when she arrived up on dry shore. Te Awamutu was reached without mishap, where we repaired to the Damien Rover Crew Den to show the visitors our headquarters. With fond good-byes we echoed—so ended a perfect day.