Mt Tapuae-o-uenuku Organiser: Tony Haddon

Mt Tapuae-o-uenuku rears its noble head 9,467 feet above sea level and has been climbed once more by a party of Nelson Tramping Club members exactly 81 years since an Awatere Rugby Club party of six summited. Their climb was reported in the Marlborough Express on 19 February 1924, under the headline "Noble Peak Conquered". The weather then was icy and heavy frosts reported in the Hodder and Shin valleys. The 2005 climb was in clear mild conditions making the many river crossings a cool relief on our hot feet.

Our party consisted of Tony Haddon, Andy Clark, Gretchen Williams, Alice Patterson and Alison Nicoll (scribe). As reported in 1924, climbing Mt Tapuae-o-uenuku is an undertaking demanding a considerable amount of daring and much strength and endurance and we were all very satisfied to have achieved the top. Alison was particularly pleased with her performance as for some years it had been her ambition to climb this peak growing up in the Awatere valley dominated by the mountain and regarded it as "her" mountain. To achieve this in her 64 th year was very pleasing and the result of much preparation. The route chosen was up the Alarm saddle with a side crossing below and in front of the buttress. The group spent about 2 hours enjoying the view in the perfect warm conditions on the top.

Highlights include: Sleeping in the hay and on the back of a large truck in the barn on Thursday night; having the Murray Adrian Hut for our exclusive use; enjoying good company, weather and scenery; surviving intact after the many steep and moving rocky crossings; immersing ourselves in the Hodder at the end of the tramp.