New Years Eve, 1919, and the small rabbiter's whare on the steep eastern slopes of the Ruahine Ranges is packed with young people. Canvas has been slung outside as an additional sleeping shelter. The whare is full of smoke from the poor chimney draw, leading the group to name the hut Shuteye Shack.
In the morning three of the boys – Ted Bibby, 23, his brother Bruce, 21, and friend Edgar Swain, 20 – will set off on an epic crossing of the Ruahine Ranges. They have no map, there are no tracks and they have no guide. Their siblings have come up the mountain to wish them well on the journey.
Ted is a returned soldier. Bruce and Edgar also joined the army but the war has ended before they have seen overseas service. The Ruahine crossing will be their summer adventure before settling into civilian life.
Fast forward to last summer and a group of us are heading up the side of the mountain to re-enact their trek. I am 57, Neil is 67. We are Ted's grandchildren. Hugh, 78, is
