"It must be done"

21-23 January - "It must be done" is the name of a geocache placed in a crashed aircraft deep in the Tararua Ranges.  A RNZAF Devon training aircraft crashed near Shingle Slip Knob on 17 February 1955.  Sadly the two Flight Lieutenants on board were both killed.  The son of one of the pilots had tramped in to the crash scene just a few days before us and had left a sad note in the geocaching log book.  I had been part of a group of geocachers that had tried to get here in 2008 but we were turned back by poor visibility and bad weather.  

Six of us had another attempt. To get to the crash scene we had to tramp up to Jumbo hut and stay the night.  From here it was a full day tramp to reach the aircraft and return to Jumbo hut for the night.  It was sad to see the wreckage, but a very memorable geocache to claim.

Jim, Gary, Anthony, Jill and Chris

We had to climb up to Shingle Slip Knob to find the crash site

Two memorial crosses on the ridge

Dropping down to the crash site

The geocache

Getting misty as we leave - the wreckage is just visible on the steep slope

The abundant white wildflowers nearby seemed so appropriate.  Below is eidelweiss.