Wellington Section Sports Climbing Trip, Payne’s Ford, Golden Bay, Labour Weekend By Jenny Cossey The trip moved from Mount Sommers to Paynes Ford when Jetstar announced some super cheap airfares to Nelson over Labour weekend, that left Wellington late Friday afternoon. The team of seven were in the supermarket, stove fuel purchased and over Takaha hill in daylight to pitch tents at dusk and eat a wonderful vegan meal as darkness descended and the stars came out. Hangdog was very quiet all weekend. We had a table to ourselves, cold nights and lots of quiet sleep (apart from the road noise). The plan was a warm, shady day of climbing at Creese Wall and Stone Symposium on Saturday (our group had the walls to ourselves for many hours). A day sun basking at Cathedral Wall, Pohara on Sunday and an 8am start on Monday for a few hours of mileage climbing at Little Lost Wall before any other climbers arrived. We left Hangdog at noon to catch the 2.45pm flight home. Eric announced he was keen to do mileage within the 16 to 22 grades, hence we all did mileage. With two Payne’s virgins, and a great forecast the team was keen. Scarlet and Marie with one rope technique sessions on Kaurangi School playground 2.5 metre high fort and a practice day at Pukura Bay, led the enthusiasm league by immediately leading and abseiling off routes without a top rope warm up led by others. It was Scarlet’s second day on rock. Using old school style boldness with excellent modern rope technique, she made an impression on all of us, as well as being a wonderful sober driver. Super strong Marie thought Eric’s grade 19 over hanging jugs looked like excellent upskilling opportunities and with boisterous glee shot up them, while others looked on. Eric’s hands loved slopers, everyone else debated if the sloping surfaces were actually holds. Paul started as Eric’s first belayer, and as Eric’s enthusiasm increased we all held his rope so that Paul could have a rest and the rest of us contemplated our enthusiasm to follow Eric’s lead on top rope. Eric meanwhile had already disappeared around another corner with another rope, ready to lead, while a belayer had to run and search for him, with the cry “Where’s Eric?” Alexis and Elisha were a communicate climbing pair and discussed many things as they contemplated the universe. Everyone pushed themselves leading on dry, warm rock with few other climbers about, or top roping following one of Eric’s numerous routes as he continued doing mileage. Long days on the crags required recovery sessions in the hot tubs and sauna of 95 degrees, the hottest that most of us had ever been in. We all admired Alexia’s ability to lie on burning wood. Or replenishing our thirst with local brews at The Mussel Inn. Communal Hangdog dinners were delicious and healthy. A social group, it felt like a team event, and yes Eric was satisfied he had done enough mileage by the end. The return trip is already planned.
