MOUNT IONIA CLIMBED

Press, Volume LXXI, Issue 21419, 11 March 1935, Page 10

MOUNT IONIA CLIMBED

AIR TRANSPORT FOR MOUNTAINEERS SUCCESS OF CANON NEWTON'S PARTY Highly pleased with the success of the arrangements made for the transport of the party, equipment, and stores by aeroplane, Canon H. E. Newton, one of New Zealand's most active climbers before the war, but now resident in England, returned to Christchurch during the week-end from a successful trip to the headwaters of the Arawata river, South Westland. With Misses M. L. Roberts and M. B. Scott, of Dunedin, Mr Alec Graham, and Guide Jack Cox, Canon Newton made the first recofded ascent of Mount lonia.

Canon Newton has been delighted to get back into his old hunting grounds in the New Zealand mountains, but he told a reporter of "The Press" last evening that one of the things that have given him most pleasure was to find how interest in mountaineering has increased among New Zealanders in the last few years. He is generous in his praise of the thorough exploration work that has been carried out by parties from the New Zealand mountaineering clubs in a comparatively short space of time. Natural Landing Ground Canon Newton told the reporter that Mr J. C. Mercer, of Air Travel (N.Z.), Ltd., had transported his party into the Arawata in a day—a trip that would have taken five days' packing from Waiho in the early days. The party's gear was taken to Okuru by boat and Mr Mercer picked it up there. Air transport for mountaineers, of course, was limited by the nature of the country into which they wished to penetrate, but it was a remarkable thing that clearings and river flats suitable for landing grounds were to be found in some of the most inhospitable country. In the headwaters of the Arawata there was a natural landing ground, and it was there that Mr Mercer had recently bought some land. He was now erecting a hut on these river flats. The party was flown into the Arawata Valley on Saturday, February 23, an excellent site for a base camp being found. Some time was spent in cutting a track through the bush track to the spur leading to Mount lonia, and after a night spent in a high altitude camp the party climbed Mount lonia on Wednesday, February 27—"an interesting but not difficult climb," it was described bv Canon Newton. This was Canon Newton's first visit to the district, and he was much impressed with the extensive glaciation of the neighbouring peaks m a year that has seen remarkably little precipitation of snow. An Interesting Relic A magnificent view of the giant, Mount Aspiring, was obtained from the ice-capped summit, but the foreground was spoilt to some extent by the bulk of the low peak of Mount lonia. A traverse to this peak would have been exceedingly arduous in the prevailing conditions — every crevasse in the ice was "open" —and it was decided that an attempt should be made to ascend the Turk's Head, a peak to the south on the same range. This would also give a fine view of the country beyond the Arawata Gorge, which would make a base for some particularly fine climbing. Mr Mercer has prospected the country, Canon Newton said, and was hopeful that a landing could be made in it with an aeroplane. A return was made, therefore, to the base camp, and another day and a half were spent in + cutting a track through the bush to give access to the peak, which has a fine leading ridge of saw-tooth appearance. Again the party bivouacked at a high camp, and here an interesting relic was discovered. When clearing out a space under an overhanging rock they found a rotted four-inch wooden stake charred by fire at both ends. Canon Newton believes that it must be the remains of a camp made by Charles Douglas, Westland's greatest explorer, who made expeditions into this country in the 'eighties. Douglas is believed by some to have made an ascent of Mount lonia, but there is no definite evidence on the point, and Douglas himself "was not an enthusiast for the peaks. Storm Turns Party Back On the western ridge of the Turk's Head the party was caught by a sudden south-easterly storm, and as the ridge presented difficulties that the party would have preferred to tackle under more favourable conditions it was decided to turn back. The party returned to the base camp and after a day's rest the members were flown back to the Franz Josef. Canon Newton was enthusiastic about the advantages of aeroplane travel on this trip. He said that the use of the aeroplane saved not only time but money. The expense entailed in hiring packhorses for several days would be considerable. He thought that there were distinct possibilities in the use of the aeroplane, also, for dropping stores to parties working in remote districts, but it would first be necessary to make sure that suitable parachutes were obtained. One Otago party had been unfortunate in a venture of this nature, for the supplies delivered to it by air were smashed to smithereens when the parachutes failed to operate properly. Canon Newton will conclude his holiday in New Zealand on April 30.