Attempted crossing of Tararuas in 1900

The Tararua Tramping Club reported this unsuccessful attempt:

"In 1900 tramping pioneers Lancaster and France attempted a crossing of the Tararuas from Levin to Masterton. They ascended a ridge they supposed to be on the flank of Mt. Dundas but, “surprised to find that the Mangahao Valley lay between them and the mountain, they named the route Deception Spur.” So writes Anthony Dreaver in his biography of Leslie Adkin. It was not until 1909 that Lancaster and Adkin made the first successful Levin- Masterton crossing and Deception Spur remained a “principal track” until the 1936 storm rendered it impassable. Today mention of Deception Spur is likely to evoke mutterings about kiekie and lawyer, slow travel, windthrow and steep grades… "

From: http://www.ttc.org.nz/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/TripReports/2009-01-31-DeceptionSpur