GALE ON MOUNTAIN

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 5, 21 January 1937, Page 9

GALE ON MOUNTAIN

Egmont Climbers' Experience Gale oonditions after a cairn, sunny day were experienced on Mount Egmont late on Sunday afternoon and at night. The force of the westerly gale was described by Mr. H. J. Wood, manager of the North Egmont hostel, as "terrific." A witidow at the hostel was blown in by the wind. Similar weather was experienced at the Stratford hostel, the plateau being exposedto the full streiigth of the gale. It was expected that trees on the momltain would be blown down befoie mornina. Nu^bers of visitors made asoente from North Egmont to the summit on Sunday. The chief guide, Mr. Roy Sole, accompanied two Australian visitors, Mr. Q. J. Henderson (Hobart) and Mr. J. D. Campbell (Melbourne), and three' other patties reached the peak. Although conditions were mild at the hostel, a etrong wind was blowing at higher altitudes, being particularly strong at the summit. One paity which reached the summit at about 3.30 o'clock on Sunday afternoon had to huddle to the ground on the descent to shelter from three-inch lumps of scoria rock that. were being tossed by the wind. Snow blown from the snowfield on to the scoria gave an undstial storm effect. A party from Dawson Falls that climbed to the summit in the morning experienced a very cold climb. .