OTAGO TRAMPING CLUB ON TOUR

Hokitika Guardian, 16 January 1930, Page 7

OTAGO TRAMPING CLUB ON TOUR

(Otago Daily Times.) -The membei's of the Otago Tramping Club who visited the Fox Glacier during the Christmas and New Year holidays give glowing accounts of the trip The party, numbering thirty, of whom the greater portion were Indies, left Christchurch on Christmas morning, and after spending the night' at Hokitika were conveyed by the West Coast Motors, Ltd., in its splendid tourist service cars to Wehokn, about two miles from the glacier, - which is reached by a well-cut track through virgin forest. The tour over the famous South Westland road was one of never-ending pleasure, and the beautiful scenery eu route charmed evi\one. the final section of seventeen miles from Graham’s Hotel at the Franz Josef Glacier to Wehokn. being acclaimed the finest on' the tour. The ascent of the Omaronj Saddle and the road cutting round Heudy’s Face gave plenty of thrills, hut skilful driving gave confidence to the party. At all outstanding beauty spots and look-out points the cars were stopped to en'>.h!“ photos to be taken and the views to be admired. The members of the club are unanimous in praising Mr Iverr (manager of West Coast Motors) and his assistants for the care and attention displayed and for heir courtesy at all times in studying the comfort and convenience of the party.

The Fox Glacier Hostel was a revelation to the party, who little expected to find such an establishment situated so far from any township. The hostel is built of timber foiled and sawn almost on its site and has its own electrict power for lighting, heating and cooking. It has all the comforts of a modern city hotel, and in addition lias large garage accommodation. A drying room is a very useful adjunct, ns trampers and nioutaineers can have theii wet garments and saddened footwear dried within a very short time. The hostel is excellently managed and the individual comfort of each guest is well looked alter. It is stated that the hostel and its equipment has absorbed an expenditure of over C‘20,000. During the stay of the Tramping Club, the weather was somewhat broken, and the club’s programme could not be carried out in its entirely could not be carried out in its entirety The day spent on the glacier was, however, perfect, and the whole party including several overseas guests, numbering for tv in all, bad many eventful and thrilling adventures rin the ice The guides, assisted l»v Mr Eric Miller, the well-kown Dunedin mountaineer, Mr J. Kennedy, and other members ol'Tlic club piloted the party as ''nr as the second icefnll. The trips to Lake Mathosnii and Gillespie's Beach wore unfortunately spoiled owing to rain; nevertheless, ■ some of the hardier members visited both of these well-known beauty resorts. The tranipers were extremely fortunate in having a sunset view of

Mount Cook and Mount Tasman, and also a sunrise view of both on the fol lowin'; morning. The party divided into different sections on the return journey. Some stayed to visit the Franz Josef Glacier and the Defiance Hut, situated at the head of tin glacier, while some of the more vigorous ones contemplated crossing the Alps by way of the Copeland Pass to the. Hermitage at Mount Cook. The social side of the club "was well looked after by the ladies, who arranged concerts each evening at which Misses Meda Paine, M. Vickers, and .others contributed many chnlrming items.