August 2012 Issue - Federated Mountain Clubs of NZ

LettersJan HeineAfter seeing the photo of Jan Heine crossing ariver in 1974 in the March 2012 FMC Bulletin(page 8), I thought this photo might be of interest.Jan Heine (on right) crossing a river in Mongolia Photo: John WilliamsonIt shows Jan in the Altai Mountains of Mongolialast year. Still crossing rivers 37 years later!John Williamson,Zavkhan TrekkingFridge’s Other QualitiesWith respect to the article ‘Refrigerated Huts’(June 2012 FMC Bulletin), as well as beingknown primarily as ‘Chief Tararua hut bagger’and ‘Paramount Fridge Magneteer’, I alsoremember well the trip when I first becameacquainted with Peter Harvey. I invited him ona float down the mid-Waiohine River gorge.He showed up proudly at the water’s edgeresplendent in a wetsuit the wrong size, a flaccidpartly-inflated car tube, and a single cannibalisedkayak paddle blade into which he had stuffeda broken mop handle. This was going to be hissecret weapon!Prima facie it looked promising, butafter a few river bends, it became apparentthat a full two blades on a handle are requiredfor propulsion. Fridge spent an age inthe Waiohine spinning like a china teacup,or finding (even creating?) eddies in the river,so that he would more often be seen headingupstream in the gorge. For me, innocently bystandingdownstream, it seemed he spent hoursdefying gravity and going the wrong way, and thewind and whitewater tried but could not drownout all the echoes of profanity. For those of youwho know the turbulent upper Waiohine Rivergorge, I consider his peripatetic route quite someaccomplishment.Anyhow, it was the funniest thing I haveseen in the hills, and I remember keeping warmthrough agonizing, quivering laughter. I believethe paddle has been mounted, and is now ondisplay in Lowry Bay as a monument to oneman’s folly.Joe Nawalaniec, Carterton8FMC Bulletin • August 2012