NEW ZEALAND ALPS.

Press, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20495, 14 March 1932, Page 10

NEW ZEALAND ALPS.

DIFFICULT MOUNTAINS. VIEWS OF VISITING CLIMBER. [THE PBES& Special Service.] WELLINGTON, March 12. Climbing in New Zealand is a greater test of endurance than in Switzerland, said Sir William Ellis, an old member of the Alpine Club, London, with experience of climbing in Switzerland, when interviewed to-day. This is because the climbing starts so much lower in this country. Sir William has just returned from a short visit to the Hermitage, and also to the Franz Josef Glacier and the Fox Glacier, and though he was loath, in view of the hurried nature of this trip to draw comparisons between the Alps here and the Swiss Alps, of which he has had a long experience, ho felt that the writings which he had encountered about the New Zealand Alps had not done them justice. Although the highest peak, Mt. Cook, was under 12,500 feet, whereas in Switzerland there were many peaks approaching 15,000 feet, that was not the true gauge of the difficulty of climbing, because in Switzerland the start was made from a much greater height than was possible in New Zealand, the extra amount of effort arid endurance here being represented by the height between the hut at which the night was spent and tho summit to be reached. He said definitely that ho knew no peak in Switzerland which required the same length of time as was necessary, even with a strong climbing party, for the ascent of Mt. Cook. As he was accompanied by Lady Ellis, and had only a limited time in the mountain country, serious climbing was out of tho question, but he had greatly appreciated the beauty and magnitude of the mountains, after his experience •in Switzerland and in the Rocky Mountains of Canada, through which ho had recently passed. He spoke very highly of tho facilities for climbing men and women afforded at the hotels at both places ho had visited, oven for tho most modest of mountainteers who had arrived without equipment. He was surprised, indeed, to find how amply sucli people were catered for. The equipment rooms were rather like curiosity shops, because ono found everything there, and every want of any party in the way ot equipment was available, whereas in Switzerland no such facilities existed. Sir William felt that a' great deal of the climbing in New Zealand, especially south of the Hermitage, was still in the nature of pioneering work, involving hardships, great endurance, and not inconsiderable risks, and lie was anxious that the younger generation taking to climbing should realise that although it was a sport of the noblest description, it cannot be carried out without experience and prudence. The photographs lie had seen on the screen, during tho celebration of the fiftieth anniversary of the first ascent of Mt. Cook, in Christchurch, gave a very good idea of the risks. He was anxious that the opportunities afforded in tho South Island for this great sport should not be abused nor prejudiced by the taking of undue risks by budding climbers. The margin between comparative safety and real danger was represented very often by only a thin line,' which could only bo broadened safely by caution and experience. "Young climbers have many years of enjovment and splendid sport in front of them," said Sir William, "and it would be unfortunate if their energy and power of endurance outran the wise 'spirit of caution so necessary in such a sport as climbing."