On saturday  the 2nd May 09 a party of 5 from HVTC set out with the aim of reaching McGregor biv  north west of jumbo hut  in the Tararuas . we set out from the road end at Mt holdsworth  past the lodge and on to the Atiwhakatu track  over a number of bridges till reaching the site of the now closed Atiwhakatu Hut with the new hut under construction next to it just a few meters on is the turn left up to jumbo . after a short rest a drink stop we carried on up and up and up just as the track seemed to level uot a bit round the next bend it went up again and steeply !! an hour in we stopped for lunch and to rest the weary limbs then back into it  another hour on and the bush started to clear then the welcome sight of the sign pointing to jumbo lodge ,a short trek up a easy (well after raingauge it was) track there it was in the mist to our left .After a breaf meeting the decision was made to stop at Jumbo Rather than try for McGregor  mainly due to the fact there was 5 of us and room for 3 at a pinch at the Biv and the conditiond wernt good for fly camping as the ice on the steps of jumbo showed .In we went and made our selves known to the 2 hunters inside and got the billy on and warmed ourselves in front of the fire .After a find dinner prepared by our trip leader and able helpers an early night was had in readiness for the next morning.

Dawn broke on more mist and rain/sleet so over breakfast -packing-hanging about it decided to try for East Holdsworth track rather than back the way we had come .Once we where all sorted we set out from the hut and off up to jumbo easy going but boggy in places  after a short but somewhat steep climb the first signs of ice showed  after a while all the tussock fronds where covered in it as where the bushes which made for a very scenic walk with a number of photo stops .the lack of wind was a blessing till the ridge between jumbo and Holdsworth when the breeze picked up and coats-gloves-hats appeared .After a easy and interesting walk in the cloud/ice/snow the pointer for  Mt Holdsworth-Powell-East Holdsworth appeared in the mist ,a quick stop for drinks snacks then off down the East Holdsworth track. 

After a short while we left the ice behind and followed the track down through the tussock toward the bushline ,the start of the bush is otherworldly with its Goblin Forrest of twisted stunted trees all draped in long moss and dripping vines  a very photogenic place ,the track continued down a steady semi steep grade into taller trees with the first signs of sunlight cutting through to the moss covered ground  at a sutible flat sunny spot we stopped for lunch  at this point the comments started about the 3 legged folding stool id brought strapped to my pack  along the lines of "this a real tramping club what will people think if thay see that !!!"  i sat on my comfy stool dry and free of sticks rocks pokeing me  and thought  you are just jealous,next trip thay will all have them !!! ,then the chief in comment making about my  "inappropriate" stool produced little tubes of LATTE powder what ever happend to the good old tea bags thrown into the billy! .After lunch back on down the track quite steep in places but easy going (down) soon the sound of the river could be heard and the track flattened out  for a nice relaxing trek to the main track ,another quick drink stop at the junction with the Atiwhakatu track then on to donnaly flats ,at the swing bridge we where treated to watching another group crossing the bridge ,not interesting in itself but thay had a elderly dog with them so a few miniuts spent watching his progress over the wobbleing bridge ! all that was left was the easy walk back to Holdsworth lodge and the roadend .In all a very enjoyable weekend and a good introduction to the Tararuas for me .