OVER THE DIVIDE.
SIR JOHN HANHAM'S TRIP. FROM WAIHO TO THE
HERMITAGE
After rocK-cliiubing in Wales, skiing in Switzerland, and varied expeditions on Mount ilgmont and Mount Ituay-hu, in the North island of New Zealand, Sir John Hanham, of the Gov-ernor-General s persona] staff, ha 3 lately increased his experience of mountaineering by making the round trip from Waiho Corge over the Franz Josef glacier to the Hermitage, Mount Cook, and back by the Copelain] I'ass. While he thinks that there is no single peak in the Southern Alps as beautiful a pichire as Mount Kgmont, standing alone, y, r John has been most interested in (lie wealth and diversity of the backcuuritrv scenery of South Westland. "I am sure there is no better way of seeing the back country of New Zealand," he .said to a reporter of Tub Pkess yesterday. "There is not only the native bush und a close proximity to the sea, but magnificent mountain scenery as well. ''
A Rapid Ascent. Unfortunately the weather was not good, and the trip had, nt several stages, .to be delayed. With Guide Frank Alack and two other climbers, Sir John went by the Defiance Hut and the Aimer Hut (where the party was held uj) l'or two nights) over Graham'B •Saddle, down the Rudolf and Tasman glaciers to the Ball Hut, and therico to the Hermitage. Although lie thought the ski-ing ground at the Aimer Hut particularly fine in extent, it was not easilv accessible, and the snow at the time was not in good condition for the sport. Solely, Sir John insists, because of good circumstances, the party was able to make, in three hours, the trip from the Aimer Hut to the sum mit, which usually takes eight hours. The covering of the crevasses with soft snow made the trip interesting and exciting. He was amazed at the pile of debris on the terminal face of the Tasman glacier.
TTie Return Trip. After being weather-bound at the Hermitage for throe nights, tho party left on the return, making the trip to the Hooker Hut. where they were joined by Guide Vic Williams and others who were going across to Wniho, to meet the Knglish woman alpinist, Miss Gardiner. AH went together over the Cojieiaud Pass, and down to Welcome }"lat Hut. While there were some fine views of Mount Cook and Mount Tasman on the journey over, on the return the weather was dull and misty. Sir John confessed that he was a little perturbed by the apparent steepness of the descent through the Oopeland Pass, which seemed to slope away almost into an abyss. At Welcome Flat, he found two excellent pools—one hot enough to shave in, and the other warm enough to sit in. Thereafter they proceeded on horseback, fording the swift-flowing Cook river. Sir John felt that he would rather trust his own feet on some of the narrower defiles, but tho horses were very sure. The parlies were met by cars, and so taken back to the Grahams' Glacier Hotel. Bird-life in the Bush. In the pleasant company of Mr Peter and Mr Alec Graham, Sir John stayed for several days longer at the hotel, taking many of the other walks in the neighbourhood. He was particularly impressed with the bird-life in tho bush, and enjoyed the rich notes of the bell-birds. Accompanied by Guide Alack he made a further trip up the glacier to Defiance Ilut, and after visiting som: out-of-the-way spots returned by Callory Gorge. Unfortunately, the weather was still not very good, and no flowers were out.
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Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 20095, 26 November 1930, Page 10
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597OVER THE DIVIDE. Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 20095, 26 November 1930, Page 10
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