Rare Phenomenon Seen By Levin Trampers

Chronicle (Levin), 6 April 1948, Page 4

Rare Phenomenon Seen By Levin Trampers

.The phenomenon of the Spectre of the Brocken, -'a rarely Seen occurrence, was witnessed by . a party of trampers from the LevinWaiopshu Tramping ' Club " during the weekend. The Spectre of the Brocken is the magnified shadow .of the observer thrown on a veil of mist by the . sun. - In this case. it was seen from a ri'dge at the top of s Mount Hector (5016 feet) on. Saturday morijing. . " •' h. The party had travelled from the Otaki Forks on Friday iiight, and chen climbed tp the top-of the mountain, via Kime Hut, on Saturday morning. On the western side of the ridge, thick cloud covered the slopes. yery nearly to the top, and it was under these eircumstances. that .the party witnessqd the phenomenon. The flgures appeared on the cloud face with. a -bright halo around the upper portion of- the body, this diifiaction effect giving them a weird appearance. During the recent war the spectre was .often seen by pilots in planes travelling abov.e the clouds. The name originaces- from a mountain in Northern Germany, Where the phenomenon was first noted. Mount Brocken, or Mount Blocksberg, Was one of the last strongholds of the heathen faith^ On Walpurgis night, May 1, it was supposed to be a scene of unholy revelry and devil worship. . * From Mount Hector the party of trampers made better time to Mount Alpha and then started the. descent to Alpha Hut, procee'ding from there down the Tauherenikau River to the Tauherenikau Hut, which was reached at 6 p.m. There they met a party of mem-. "hers of the Tararua and other tramping clubs who had gathered in order to hold a barn dance. Altogether there were some 80trampers in the party and they . were camped along the banks of the river in tents. The night was clear, with bright moonlight, and the Levin trampers also camped in this beautiful spot among dozens of glowing camp fir.es. On the Sunday, after spending some time taking photographs in ihe beautiful Kaitoke Valley, they accompanied the Tararua - Club members to. Wellington, where they were entertained by. the club until i their bus left at 9.30 p.m.