ASCENDING MOUNT HOLDSWORTH

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 82, 31 December 1907, Page 6

ASCENDING MOUNT HOLDSWORTH

(BI TELEGEAPH— SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.) \ Masterton, December 30. Mr. J. R. Sfcrachan, Government Surveyor, who returned last night to Masterton from leading a party of tourists up Mount Holdsworth, has kindly supplied tho following par-' ticulars to your correspondent: .— "Tho, party," ho said, " comprised fourtcon in all, seven ladies and seven gentlemen. Wo. left Masterton' at 10 o'clock on Friday morning;' reached Thompson's, at the foot' of tho mountain, shortly after noon; and then with three pack; horses laden with provisions, rugs, and a tent, wo continued our four and a half mile journey up to the mountain house, which wo reached at about half-past fivo o'clock. Tho ascent, was fairly easy, Tho mountain houso is 2400 feet above tho sea lovel. Wo started next mqfning at a quarter-to. two to ascend tho mountain in real earnest, and by good going we'were past thobush in tinio to seo the sun rise, and all of us were on top of tho mountain shortly beforo six o'clock. A PINE VIEW. "T'hero,was not a breath, of wind. Tho, sky was clear in every direction. Wo could, see everywhere. _ Standing from' tho northeast, the Puketoi rango loomed dark against tho' sky-line: To tho south there was ocean' backed by tho Hourangis, and beyond Palliser Bay, more ocean, and right round until tho eyo lit upon the Rimutakas and tho far peaks of tho Kaikouras. Cook Strait now appeared, edged by D'Urville Island and The Brothers, with tho mountains of the Nelson district in tho background. In tho near distance was Kapiti Island, and, far away, Farewell Spit. Tho ocean was cut again on.the west by Mount, Crawford, abovo which gleamed tho snow-capped conielo poak ofMount Egmont—a lonely outpost. Below, again, thero appeared tho curving Rangitikci coast, with its surge-swept rocks, and then tho horizon 'blocked tho near peaks of tho Tararuas. Ono could just sco the Wairarapa Lake, but there was a'panoramic view of tno Wairarapu and Manawatu towns." Mr. Strachan stated that thero was n fmo fresh-water spring on ono of tho spurs within fivo chains of tho top of tho mountain. Tho latter portion of tho ascent was very steep. Tho party then returned to tho mountain houso, a walk of tlurty-five minutes, and put up for. tho night. Tho trip back to Masterton was accomplished next day. It is not often that ono can obtain a clear view at Mount Holdsworth, and this particular jaunt has been doubly interesting in consequence. .