OVER THE DIVIDE

Hokitika Guardian, 29 November 1930, Page 6

OVER THE DIVIDE

SIR JOHN HANHAM’S TRIP. FROM WAIHO TO THE HERMITAGE After rock-climbing in Wales, skiing in Switzerland, and varied expeditions on Mount Egmont and Mount Ruapehu, in the North Island of New Zealand, Sir John Haiiliam, of the Gov-ernor-General’s personal staff, has lately increased his experience of mountaineering by making the round trip from Waiho Gorge over the Franz Josef glacier to the Hermitage, Mount Cook, and back by the Copeland Pass. While he thinks that there is no single peak in the Southern Alps as beautiful a picture as Mount Egmont, .standing alone. Sir John has been" Most interested in the wealth and diversity of the backcountry scenery of South Westland. “I am sure there is no better way of seeing the back country of New Zealand,” he said. “There is not only the native bush and a close proximity to the sea, but magnificent mountain scenery as well.”

A Rapid Ascent

Unfortunately the weather was not good, and the trip had, at several stages, to be delayed. With Guide Frank Alack and two other climbers, Sir John went by the Defiance Hut and the Aimer Hut (where the party was held up for two nights) over Graham s Saddle, down the Rudolf and Tasman glaciers to the Ball Hut, a'nd thence to the Hermitage. Although he thought the ski-ing ground at the Aimer Hut particularly fine in extent, it was not easily accessible, and the snow at the time was not in good condition, for the sport. Solely, Sir John insists, because of good circumstances, the party was able to make, in three hours, the trip from the Aimer Hut to the summit, which usually takes eight hours. The covering of the crevasses with soft snow made the trip interesting and exciting. He was amazed at the pile of debris on the terminal face of the lasman glacier. / The Return Trip. After being weather-bound at the Hermitage for three nights, the party left on the return, making the trip to the Hooker Hut, where they were joined by Guide Vic Williams and others who were going across to Waiho, to meet the English woman alpinist, Miss Gardiner. All went together over the Copeland Pass, and down to Welcome Flat Hut. While there were some fine views of Mount Cook and Mount Tasman on the journey over, on the return the weather was dull and misty. Sir John confessed that he was a little perturbed by the apparent steepness of the descent through the Copeland Pass, which seemed to slope away almost into an abyss. At Welcome' Flat, he found two excellent pools—one hot enough to shave in, and the other warm enough to sit in. Thereafter they proceeded on horseback, fording tile swift-flowing Cook River. Sir John felt that he would rather trust his own feet on some of the narrower defiles, but the horses were very sure. The parties were met by cars,-and .so taken-, baek .to the Grahams’ Glacier Hotel. Bird-life in the Bush. In the pleasant company of Mr Peter and Mr Alex Graham, Sir John stayed for several days longer at the hotel, taking many of the other walks in the neighbourhood. He was particularly impressed with the bird-life in the bush, and enjoyed the rich notes of the bell-birds. Accompanied by Guide Alack he made a further trip up the glacier to Defiance Hut, and after visiting some out-of-the-way spots returned by Callory Gorge. Unfortunately, the weather was still not very good, and no flowers were out.