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The Vining/Mangatangi
Trig/Pa loop trip should have been a doddle. The team had
two maps, a GPS, a compass, several whistles, a birdcaller
and fine weather. There were six seasoned Trekkers (a superb
leader in Claire, another superb leader in Nigel, plus
Andrew, Carl, Stephen and Lindsay). It was a straight
forward trip, and several had done the "unofficial" Pa loop
before.
Until Morning tea at the bush edge the trip went well. Then
it was all downhill as the team ascended into the Zone of
Confusion. The first ominous signs were mocked: Map 1 (a
sketch) showing the critical pa track junction near a large
fallen tree, and the team joking as they climbed past three
such trees (with ribbons that might, or might not, have been
track markers). Map 2 (topo) offered no help - not even
showing the pa let alone the track to it (see post script).
Further confusion erupted at the trig: some thought it was
lunch time and some didn't; some wanted the view and some
sought shelter from the wind. Claire restored harmony with
skill and veiled threats, and soon the team was descending
to the first fallen log, with some looking forward to lunch
and some thinking they had had it.
There was a rare moment of consensus at the first log, with
everyone agreeing it was the biggest of the three. This was
taken as a reason to trace the nearby ribbon trail into the
unknown. Some surged ahead, taking turns with rose-tinted
glasses (which make pink ribbons more visible and build
confidence in the route). Others lingered at the back,
muttering darkly about weird compass bearings and the time
needed to find the ribbons.
In a stroke of brilliance, Claire announced she was dying of
starvation. This forced the group to rally round and compare
notes. The GPS proved they had navigated brilliantly to the
wrong place. Or maybe the right place, but just a part
nobody recognised. And on a ridge that might, or might not,
be going the wrong way. Or the right way.
With mixed feelings the team climbed back to the big fallen
log and retraced their steps down the Vining track.
Symbollically the Castle Café was closed, but everyone
finished well satisfied and knowing there is still a problem
of epic proportions yet to be solved.
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