Day 8 (am): Saturday December 30 1933
EXTRACT FROM REPORT
"Minchin first on right after Thompson. Either side of Minchin Stream
or go up terrace on left. From here, may gain first view of Minchin
Lake. Good camping place on lower left end of lake. Go right side to
obtain good view of nine leap waterfall. At upper end, follow a mile
on flat to gorge entrance. Camping place under overhanging cliffs on
left of entrance to gorge. Gorge will be difficult if in flood and
may have to wade through some pools. When just about through, you
are confronted with impassable waterfall. Scramble up side of cliff
on right. Care necessary due to loose shingle and rotten bush. After
negotiating waterfall and regaining stream follow deer track through
scrub. Minchin Pass straight ahead, but is further off than it
looks. From top to Taramakau via stream about 4 hours. Very Steep
also in and out of water. 8 hours with junction with Taramakau to
Aickens. Keep on left of Taramakau. A nasty looking tributary (Otehake)
comes in on this side. Avoid by fording above an below where fords
are good. Follow down to the Otira River, go through gates or fence
on to West Coast Road to Aikens."
I got up with Huia at 5am to cook the breakfast of stewed HIKING BISCUITS and PEACHES, PORRIDGE and TEA. Went down later and washed utensils and self in stream. Whole crowd packed and away by 8am. The cirrus clouds, the sun coming over the snow-clad tops and the light blue morning sky created a wonderful picture. Behind us the lake was light blue in tone with the sky and stood out clear against the deep green bush and clear silvery white mountains beyond. We made diagonally across the flat from the camp and fording the stream, clambered along the rocks and through bush round a bend in the stream. More wading and heaving over big rocks saw us well up at the entrance of the gorge. Here the stream had cut a deep path through the mountain side, leaving rock bluffs towering above us alternated with dips in which the bush clung precariously. We had to use the rope once in getting across between two huge rocks and often we were up to our thighs in water, edging round rock faces. Looking back, one could reason out such a gorge. The stream sloping away at a steep grade had cut through the soft rock leaving a rough bed.
Finally we rounded a bend and rested a minute in the sun which peeped through the bush above. Ahead all was in deep shadow and the frothy water told us of the waterfall round the bend. Gaining the turn we came upon the wonderful sight of the river tumbling down left through a four foot gap between the rocks which slope sharply upwards for 10 ft or so and then terrace back to the sides of the gorge. While we stood below, Reg, divested of pack, climbed the rock face 20ft from the fall on our left, and went along through a gap above the fall and down the other side to explore the river further on. In about 10 mins he came back with word that all was O.K. He then lowered the rope, attached to a tree, from a cleft above the first bit of the climb and one by one we were taken up; packs first, then hauling ourselves up the rocks, using the debris cast up by the river when in flood time and the rotten bush as foot and hand holds. Up and through a crack in the rock, offering few holds on to the stream below. This process took quite a time, but we had decided long before to use the rope and be safe and sure, rather than reckless and sorry. Again we had need of the rope in crossing the stream; then feeling along thigh deep, we came upon a large rock over which we must climb to reach the open, past the gorge. Reg went up and we were all hauled and climbed up to find ourselves at the junction of two streams. Time 10:45. The sun was now blazing out of clear blue sky and this divided us. Finding a sheltered spot, we divested ourselves of most or all of our clothing and lay and sunbathed. Bob made a fire and the meal of rice with butter, bread, spaghetti and tea. As we lay there in the warm sun, having the falls muffled roar and the rushing of the stream. One could appreciate to the full the majestic scenery and the wonder of nature. The agreeableness of our present position made us leisurely. And it was 3pm before we left going up the left to the pass.