NEW SKI FIELDS

Evening Star, Issue 22454, 26 September 1936, Page 10

NEW SKI FIELDS

EXPLORATORY TOUR FIRST SKI'ERS IN DISTRICT FROM THE DART TO THE REES A large amount of equipment was necessary, and included amongst the impedimenta were skis, ice axes, crampons, a tent and primus, and a plentiful supply of food and clothes. Weight had been cut down to a minimum, but winter conditions were expected to be much more rigid than usual. The mountains enclosing Lake Wakatipu presented an imposing sight as we steamed up to Glenorchy in the trusty little lake steamer, Ben Lomond. Ben Lomond itself, overlooking Queenstown, usually a delightful walk taken by tourists to watch the sunrise, was snow cpvered to well below bush level, while the Remarkahles made a fitting background to pretty little Queenstown. From Glenorchy a service car transferred our baggage and ourselves to Paradise, nestling between Mount Earnslaw and Mount Alfred. > At 6 o’clock one wet and dismal morning, we said good-bye to mine host of the Glenorchy Hotel, who had generously arisen from his bed to give us breakfast and drive us to Paradise, to set us on our way up the Dart Valley in the wake of the pack horses. PACKHORSES RETURN. The rain was falling heavily, and the peaks were shrouded in mist as we sw'ung along behind the horses. The animals forded the river, but, owing to its swollen nature, we were forced to scramble over part of the Big Bluff and wade thigh-high round another part. Approaching the Dredge Huts, we came abreast of the horses again. As they went to ford the river it w'as observed that they had considerable trouble in swimming, being heavily laden, and, although their immersion was short, the packs and boxes were slightly wet. As the river was rising rapidly the packmen were keen to, get out of the valley before they were cut pff, so, reluctantly, and with thoughts weary packing, one watched rhem disappear down the valley. With the afternoon only begun, the opportunity was taken to transport all non-perish-able supplies and skis to the bottom end of Cattle Flat, where they were cached, and a return made to the Dredge Huts by nightfall. Seven-foot skis are not the easiest things to manage on top of a heavy pack when negotiating narrow bush tracks. _ That night and all the next day rain fell continuously, while snow lay well down belovP bush level. The following day, with full pack*, we continued on, the sifti managing to break through for an hour or-two while we were'traversing the long Cattle Flat. We were still denied a view of the high peaks, but had occasional glimpses of the Forbes Range through the swirling mist. However, Mountains Head, Ellie. Moira, and the Osonzac Twins are not nearly as impressive from the Dart as from the Rees Valley. The new track, from Cattle Flat to the Whitburn, is a great time and labour saver, for it cuts out the Dart Gorge, and, although conditions underfoot were rather severe, we arrived at the Whitburn just eight hours from the Dredge Huts.

Discovered in Western Otago Dunedin Party Investigates Prospects Ideal Fields for the Sport In the summer time during the last few years the valleys lying in behind Lake Wakatipu have been explored and opened up by climbing parties, but nothing has been known of the conditions during winter. The head of the Dart Valley, Whitburn, Snowy Creek, and Bees Valley were ail thought to lend themselves to ski-ing and ski-mountaineering, but no one is known to have ever taken skis into this country. With the object of ascertaining whether there were any good grounds in that vicinity, three members of the New Zealand Alpine Club and Otago Ski Club left Dunedin for Queenstown recently, and, although bad weather was experienced, good ski-ing fields were found in the district. In this article one member of the party provides an account of the trip, together with details of the new ski-ing fields.

THE WHITBURN. Fortunately, there were two workmen’s tents still up, the track being uncompleted. Thus was avoided the necessity of pitching our little alpine tent. Whilst cleaning out one of these tents, for mice had played havoc and were nesting everywhere, we came upon a, bag of detonators and a fuse. The absence of gelignite did not worry us until, on returning to Glenorchy, we were calmly informed that the spare mattress contained the gelignite. We, poor innocents, had lain on and thrown this mattress around tor days 1 The next five days were spent, for the most part, in our sleeping bags. It was raining and snowing almost continuously. Occasionally, between storms, we would creep out, don skis, and charge round the 1 Whitburn Flat before being- driven in again. Though the grade was slight, excellent slalom courses were available, with speargrass or “ Spaniards ” as flags. The peaks were seldom clear, and all dreams of a “ bivvy ” in the Upper Whitburn were gradually fading. After several days, during which we came to the conclusion that our luck was out, we decided that the first fair day an attempt would be made to force our way up the Snowy Creek and over the Rees Saddle. ALPINE CLUB’S NEW HUT. At last the barometer showed signs of doing “ the decent thing,” and that night the moon rose on a cloudless sky. Spirits rose, and preparations were made for departure at daylight. That day dawned bright and clear, and two hours saw us at the junction of the Dart and Snowy Rivers. It is at this spot that the New Zealand Alpine Club intends building a hut, and no more suitable spot could be found. This hut will serve a vast climbing area, and will be an excellent base for ski parties in the winter. The skiing possibilities are tremendous, for within an hour or so of the hut site is the Dart Glacier, and at its head Islington, Plunket, and Liverpool Domes. Our way lay up the Snowy Valley, and, alter proceeding along the slopes of Mount Headlong, we crossed to the Forbes 1 Range and donned skis. Conditions were ideal, and, with good climbing wax, several hours later saw us on the Rees Saddle. EXCELLENT GROUNDS. From this vantage point enormous fields stretched out in all directions. A clear run is possible from the top of Mount Tyndall, at the head of the Snowy Glacier, to the Rees Saddle and 'its environs. The run from the Saddle down the Rees is a thrilling one, starting with a steep face and swinging round the corner for a long, straight run. The Shelter Rock Hut is one long day from Glenorchy, and horses could be taken to within two miles of the hut in winter. There is no doubt that this district will, during the next few years, attract skimonntaineers from all over New Zealand, as more ideal fields would be difficult to find. The residents at the Head of the Lake are very sympathetic to mountaineers, and do everything passible to assist. We had, at least, in spite of the weather, completed part of our intended programme. Firstly, we satisfied ourselves that splendid ski-fields are available, and, secondly, we made the first winter crossing from the Dart to the Rees on skis.