A VISIT TO MOUNT COOK.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1795, 21 March 1888, Page 3

A VISIT TO MOUNT COOK.

•» Mr E, E. Bilbrongh, the agent for Messrs Cook and Sons, gives the following account of a trip to Mount Cook, under date Timaro, March 13 :— After a thoroughly enjoyable trip, Maior Dane and myaelf returned from th 3 Hermitage to-day. We formed part of one of the largest parties that have yet been here, which also included Professor Hutton and Mr Dick, Chief Poatma&ter of Ohrißtchurch. Considering all things, the road is good, and the two days' coaching each way, under the ausplcoß of the Mount Cook Coaching Company,, was very efficiently and plea Hantly carried cut. All tho the way down from Pakakl to cho Hermitage, Aorangl, the "cloud piercer," presented his moat glorious aspect to ua under tho bl&zlug Bummer aun, and later his severest winter features In a densley wild snowstorm, which draped all the lesser peaks far down their tugged stdea. Wo had a good viow of the terminal ice of the great Tasman glacier, and tho bases of tho glaciers of Ball and Hocbstetter. Mount Sefton, too, lifted bis cloud cap, and thundered down his avalanchea to welcorre us. Though actually some distance from -the clear ice, free from the moraine of the Mueller and Hooker glaciers, they can both be reached m half a day, unless, m tbo case of tho latter, tho rivir is unfordable, and there are many less tedious excursion b, full of interest to the botanist, geologist, or easy-going tourist, as well aa j ) more amtitious ones for Alpine climbers. Tho ruorainos, ice pinnacles, cliffs, and caves, the birthplace of the rivera, and Birch Tree Gorge, where we gathered eidelweiss, are amongst some of the many easy trips. The Hermitage is comf or^ablo, and Mr Huddleston and the othor directors of the company aro to be congratulated on their enterprise m thus opening to touriists one of New Zealand's choicest spots, When a few additional improvements are made, such as a wire rope acrofcs the Hooker river, a fow more tracks cut, and a hut or two erected, three weeks will be all too short to see the many grand sights that abound thero.