ASCENT OF TONGARIRO.
A few days ago, a party of four young gentlemen, having obtained a boat from the. officer in charge at Tapuaeharnru (by the permission of the Hon. the Defence Alinister), crossed Lake Taupo to Tokano, with tbe intention of climbing to the top of Tongariro, or, rather, of Ngauruehohe, that being the name of the sugar loaf-like peak that is always steaming, smoking, and, now and then, grumbling in a very threatening mauner. Constable Chase, A.C., accompanied the party to take charge of the boat, and also acted as gnide. On the 10th tbey camped on one of the spurs of Tongariro, about 17 or 18 miles from Tokano ; and at daylight on the 11th they commenced the ascent of tbe mountain, and at 12 o'clock reached the foot of the great cone of the volcano. From there it took them two hours or mote to reach the summit, the ascent being both difficult and laborious, as they sank to the knees at every step in a mixture of cinders, lava, &c , and, occasibnally, snow. In some cases they found 1 a layer of cinders a foot deep covering beds of snow. They found the interior sides of the crater too steep to venture a descent; besides which the immense volume of sulphurous steam would have suffocated them had they tried it ; as it was, through this cause they were prevented from seeing distinctly the bottom of the crater. They describe the steam as issuing in numerous jets from the bottom and sides, and the edges of the crater as being very narrow and insecure. Unfortunately, it was too hazy for a good view to be obtained from the top of the cone. They descended the mountains, slipping down at a great rate the loose slopes of cinders and snow, and reached Tapuaeharuru about dark on the 13th, having performed a really wonderful feat, of which a detailed account written by one of the party will probably be published soon. This party is said to be the first that reached the top of Ngauruehohe, though several attempts have been made by others.
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Bibliographic details
Grey River Argus, Volume XII, Issue 1358, 5 December 1872, Page 4
Word Count
355ASCENT OF TONGARIRO. Grey River Argus, Volume XII, Issue 1358, 5 December 1872, Page 4
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