MOUNTAINEERING

Hokitika Guardian, 10 April 1931, Page 3

MOUNTAINEERING

OVER TIT REF. PASSES. CANTERBUB Y CLIM BEILS’ TRIP. A mountaineering trip not often attempted was the passage of the three ( passes—the Harman, Whilehorn. and Browning Passes—-made by three members of tin- Canterbury Mountaineering and Tramping Club .Messrs 'l'. ! Robins, R. Smart, and T. K. Pnpprili crossing of (lie Browning Pass was eventful. for before the pass was reached darkness bad set in. ’Pile climbers bad decided to push on from the* pass, down the A rah lira liver on the West Coast side, hut one of the I heavy fogs which mountaineers often j encounter in that region came up. with the result (hat they were 11 n; 1 1. *I - ■ j to find the gorge of the Arahura. and I had to return to the top of the pass, where the nighl was spent in a small hut. The three men went mi the Bealey to the Carrington lint. at the head of I hi' Waiiuakariri river on K"furday. An early start was made on Sunday, up the Taipo river and over Harman’s I Pass, which leads to the West Coast. I The climb was then continued to the j Whitehorn Pass, which brought the three men back on to the Canterbury side of tbp ranges. The route from this point- led down the Cronin river to its junction with the Wilbcrfore.n, where the new Wilbcrforre Hut is situated. * At the Wilherfore Hut two memmors of the Canterbury Mountaineering Club, who had accompanied the climbers on the first stage of their trip—Messrs S. T). Mears and R. Caldwell;—erected a tablet in memory to the two youths. Park and Morpeth, who lost their lives some time ago in crossing the Browning Pass. These men then returned over the Whitehorn Pass to the Carrington Hut Messrs Robins. Panprill, and Smart continued their journey to Browning’s Pass, with the intention of going down the Arahura, river to the West Coast, hut wore delayed hv nightfall and the heavy fog. They were unable to leave the top of Browning’s Pass until 10. fit) a.m. on Monday, going down the Arahura to the huts on Grassy Flat. From ■tlipn' the going- was easv to Kokatalii, which was readied oii" Tuesday.