Mon. 18, May 1953 FIRST CAMP SITE ON MANEAU TO TOP CAMP. UP AT 6:AM. DID MY SWAG UP + HAD QUICK BREAKFAST OF BREAD, HAM, TEA, SUGAR + A FEW DRIED OATMEAL FLAKES IN TEA. CARRIERS LINGERED OVER BREAKFAST + WE DID NOT START OUT UNTIL 7:15. A PERFECT NIGHT - GOOD SLEEP UNDER STARS + 1ST 1/4 MOON. Passed Bird "Tea House" at 7:50. 8:1-8:15 SPELL, FIRST VINES WITH SECTIONS - A CLIMBER + WATER IN SOME SECTIONS. NOW ON FIRST RIDGE - SEE TO N.+S. SPELL 8:30-8:50, 9:15 - PASSED DUON'S CARRIER CAMP! SPELL 9:45 FILLED BILLY CAN WITH WATER. START 10'. ARRIVED AT MIDDLE CAMP AT 10:30 A.M. MET CARRIER PARTY ON WAY DOWN TO BINIGONI. HAD LEFT TOP CAMP AT 8:1 A.M. DUON STAY- ING UP TOP. CARRIERS HAD LONG SPELL + ATE LUNCH AS DID I. MIDDLE CAMP IN TRANSITION BETWEEN OAK + BEECH. THIS WAS SUPPOSED TO BE THE 2ND NIGHT SLEEPING SPOT, BUT CARRIERS + I ALL FEELING STRONG SO WE DECIDED TO GO ON TO TOP CAMP. LEFT AT 11:30. 12 NOON SPELL. 12:05 START. 12:30 SPELL - IN BEECH FOREST NOW. 12:35 START. VERY LIGHT RAIN FROM CLOUDS HANGING IN TREES. 1: SPELL UNTIL 1:30, REACHED BARK SHELTER AT 1:45. FIRST AURACARIAS - BIG PINE TREES - ROUGH BARK + TUFTED - LOOKING NEEDLE BUNCHES. OUT INTO OPEN COUNTRY - TIMBER LINE - TERRA AURACARIAS + BRACKEN FERN AT 2:10. TOOK SEVERAL PICTURES OF CARRIERS IN THIS BACKGROUND. REFRESHED TOP CAMP 3:1 A.M. ELEV. 1400 FEET. DAVID + I PUT OUT 40 TRAPS. DELIVERED CABLE TO LEN - LEAVING FOR HOME WITHIN 2 WEEKS. TENT 42 FLY'S UP. NIGHT COLD + CLEAR. MOON SET OVER RIDGE 8:30. FINE WATER, LOVELY CAMP SITE. ALL IN GOOD SHAPE. WALKING TIME - 5 HOURS.