ATTRACTION OF HIGH PLACES: WHY MEN CLIMB MOUNTAINS

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 12, Issue 59, 23 June 1948, Page 6

ATTRACTION OF HIGH PLACES: WHY MEN CLIMB MOUNTAINS

“It is difficult to express why the hills have such a strong attraction for so many .men,” said the chief guide of the Tararua Tramping Club (Mr L. D. Bridge) in a talk on the approach to mountaineering at the first meeting of those taking the club’s alpine instruction course this season. “Possibly,” he added, “this modern mechanised age with its conventions, restrictions, regulations, supplied amusement and sport, canned music and artificial recreation breeds a latent desire to escape and enjoy the complete mental relaxation and rejuventation that are to be found in the pure air and beautiful surroundings of the mountain scene. “Possibly the vigoorus exercise with its culminating feeling of real physical and mental well-being is another reason for this attraction to the hills. Or it may be that climbing as a sport rekindles a feeling of the pioneering spirit, the desire to see what lies beyond the ranges.” It was difficult with words to transmit to those who had yet to discover the hills, the underlying feelings that attracted a true hillsman to the high country, continued Mr Bridge. Words could not give the the feel of gritty rock or the eyes the sight of glistening snow. Nor could words enable ears to hear the crunch of snow underfoot or the crinkling sound of ice cut out by an axe on a frozen slope when the day was golden. When people had learned safe practice, when they had become competent on rock and snow and ice and knew their own capabilities, and whether they were attracted to high climbing, to exploration or to pass hopping, they would find happiness in the hills.