Mountaineer’s Challenge

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 12, Issue 34, 2 April 1948, Page 5

Mountaineer’s Challenge

Whakatane Man’s Offer To Tackle Record A recent paragraph in -a daily paper to the effect that a Wanganui schoolboy had scaled the three peaks at National Park in 17 hours, which was claimed as a record, has brought an offer from Mr Karl Mayclair, of Whakatane, to do the same thing quicker, and without his boots. Mr Mayclair hasn’t done much climbing since he came here,- he said, but he is a man with an enviable mountaineering and tramping record. The Beacon looked it up. Amongst the feats of endurance he has achieved are the climbing of Mt. Ngaruhoe in bare feet' and the record time of one and a half hours, and a hike through the Tararua Ranges from Otaki to Kaitoke in 12 2 hours, believed to be another record.

This isn’t boasting on Mr Mayclair’s part. Those facts were commented on at the time by newspapers of national importance and unassailable integrity. Moreover, he was chosen by the Army as chief gUide for guerilla bush work instruction, and guided both our own troops and Americans on manoeuvres before they went to the islands. He is long standing member of the Hutt Valley tramping club. After making his offer to tackle the National Park climbing record, Mr Mayclair went on to discuss the chances of starting a tramping club here. He thought there should be plenty of excellent country around this district for breaking in beginners, and gave a brief sketch of possible extended activities to cover visits to other such clubs and cooperation with them on holiday jaunts, skiing and all winter sports. His idea impresses. Here is a grand opportunity for people interested in the great outdoors to get together under a man who is recognised as one of the foremost and most experienced trampers in the country. Mr Mayclair is itching to get his boots off again and lead a team into the little-known ways of the local wilderness. All he wants is to meet a few people keen enough to help him start a club.