THE HOOKER GLACIER

Hokitika Guardian, 13 August 1927, Page 1

THE HOOKER GLACIER

POSSIBILITIES OF A. NEW TOURIST ROUTE IN AY JUTLAND. (Contributed.) This large and magnificent glacier is situated at the head of tho Clarke and Paringa Rivers in South AVes’tland and must not be contused with a glacier of the same name which is accessible from the Hermitage. It is doubtful if there are a dozen people living who have seen this wonderful sight at close quarters. Afr Eric James, a guide from Alakarora, from observations made when exploring ill tln> vicinity last winter, came to the conclusion the access to it was not ns difficult as niight have been supposed. He renewed his investigations again last month, and though he tailed to get on to the ice, lie claims there shoui'd lie no difficulty and little expense to cut a track from the Burke or Clarke Huts on ihe Raast Pass track, to the foot of the glacier. It: would ho a two days’ journey for the average traveller. but could be accomplished by the more enegetie type in one day. Halt ol this journey can be done on horseback. Tho route which follows up the Clarke River bed is a section of the journey full of interesting sights ol AA'estland mountain bush. The trail passes over grassy flats, crossing and recrossing the dear bi'ue waters of the river. After about three to four hours ride, there is good horse grazing. The trail as marked by Afr James continues up a spur on the left side of the river, and over a small saddle, thus avoiding a rugged winding gorge some two miles in length.

From this saddle a gradual descent is made into Davis Flat, a iussook flat of about half a mile long, and a very suitable camping site for those wishing to break the journey. The trail again continues up another spur and over a second saddle, avoiding the rough going through the Oorge, and cutting off a considerable distance. A deer track, well beaten and sei’ected. is chosen on each of these climbs. Kaeli saddle should he managed in two hours, which includes halts.

From this point the river winds through beautiful alpine vegetation and the travelling is easy, changing from tussock Hats to sandy beaches. About an hour’s easy walking from the foot of the second saddle the junction of several small branches of the river comes in sight. The main river emerges through a deep crevasse in the mountains and is quite inaccessible. There are two creeks which enter on the right of which the left-hand one was selected as the quickest and easiest route by Inflowing its short course to its saddle, and by making a sharp hut short descent into Mark’s Flat below. Mr James with the time at his disposal was unable to explore this descent from tin’s third saddle, hut lie anticipates no difficulty as a well marked doer track descends on the lower side, and would in all events end in the valley on the upper side. The glacier is about a mile and n-half wide, hut is separated at the foot hv three or four spurs. It is roughly a mile and a-haff long. The late Chas. Douglas, who spent several years exploring .the heads of these rivers, was believed to have been the first man to reach this glacier, lie was so much impressed by its grndeur that he later returned and made a field sketch from Mark’s Flat. The same is to he seen in the Hokitika Museum. The glacier is surrounded with snow tops ranging upwards to 8.500 ft. These peaks, and the icefields at the head o! the glacier, ran he seen from the Haaxt Pass track, and is much admired by tourists, and many have expressed their desire to obtain close views of these huge masses ol snow, rock and ice. The new rare Til no Mountain duel' was seen a mile or two from Marks Flat, while kakas and kens were Irequently heard. The whole route is wei stocked with red deer, and the lower portion of the valley i - \ isitod each >. :•;> m> ll by sportsmen. Mr James underwent some hardships to obtain the above knowledge. Camping without a tly in the frozen snow where wood was not available was some inconvenience. His top blankets. trousers and hoots were frozen stiff, while the absence of a fire prevented hint from drying his clothing, wetted by sliding down snow covered faces and wading through streams. Ili> hopes to arrange n pioneer party of tourists to make this trip from Otago via Tlaast Pass next summer.