MOUNT RUAPEHU.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1412, 12 April 1912, Page 6

MOUNT RUAPEHU.

NEW ROUTE FROM OHAKUNE. A MAGNIFICENT HOLIDAY GROUND. Few of the.hundreds of passengers who travel past Mount Ruapehu in tho express trains every day realise how easily this peak, the highest, and perhaps Ihe most interesting, in the North Island, may be ascended. Several routes to the mountain aro referred to in the Tourist Department's "Itinerary of Travel," but curiously enough no mention has yet been made of the track from Ohakune, which is by far the most convenient route for travellers with only limited time at their disposal. If the weather conditions are favourable for the ascent, the trip can be made comfortably in a day and a half from Ohakune, and there arc few more enjoyable excursions to bo had in the Dominion.

During the Easter holidays a party of nine made the ascent by tho Ohakune track, five of tho number reaching the summit. A start was made from Ohakune at about midday on Saturday, and an enjoyable walk of four hours through tho virgin bush brought the party to tho mountain meadow at an altitude of about 5000 feet abovo sea level, or .1000 feet above Ohakune. The track through the bush has lately been improved by the Government, and it is possible to ride to within 3000 feet of the summit. The party camped for the night in tho tents which the Ohakune guide, Mr. P. Kogcl, has pitched just above the bush line, and at five o'clock on Sunday morning a start was made for the summit, which was reached at about nine o'clock. The early stages of the climb were done by moonlight. No difficulties were encountered, and it was only found necessary to cut steps in the snow in the last IGO feet or so of the climb.

The mountain at this season of the year is unusually clear of snow, and the greater part of the ascent was made over rock and boulders." A north-west wind sprang up at about dawn, and continued blowing throughout the morning, bearing in heavy banks of cloud from the sea over Taranaki. The greater part of the wide panorama stretching west and south from the mountain, however, was seen in bright sunlight during the climb, and a magnificent, view was obtained, reaching down almost to the coast in the Rangitikei district. As a cloud cap settled on the summit soon after dawn and remained there throughout mo«t of the day, no view of the. country to the north and east of the mountain was obtainable, and only a brief glimpse of the crater lake on Ruapehu itself was to be had. The lake appeared to be active, as several members of the parly reported a strong ..moll of sulphur. The descent was naturally made in much less time than the ascent, particularly as Ruapehu has some remarkably lino, snow slopes for glissading down. The camp was reached shortly after midday, and at two o'clock the pack horse was laden with the camping equipment, and the party, on the road to Ohakune, which was reached well in time for Sunday evening tea. . The ascent of Ruapehu from Ohakune will probably become one .of the most popular mountaineering " excursions in New Zealand, and the.Government might well consider the erection of a mountain hut in time for next season. The onlyhut on the mountain is at a point on the eastern side about half-way between Waionni and Tokaan'u, and about Ihirly miles away.from tho nearest railway station, whereas the distance from Ohakune to tho summit is less than half that. If a hut was also erected between Ruapehu and Ngaruhoe it would be possible to ascend .Ruapehu by the Ohakune track; on the second day to descend to the. hut between the two mountains; and on tho third .day to climb Ngaruhoe, descending on the western side of that mountain, and making out to the railway station at Waimarino. Now that the express trains are running so close,to this magnificent national nark, jt seems a pity to grudge the few hundred pounds needed to open up a practicable route by which the two main peaks may be reached at a minimum of time and expense.