NEW PASS FOUND

Hokitika Guardian, 20 May 1931, Page 5

NEW PASS FOUND

CLIMBING IN LIEBIG RANGE. SEVERAL PARTIES OUT. TTMARU, May 17. Two clays nFt**i* Mrs C. W. F. Hfliwil. ton (Irishman’s Crook Station) and Miss M. McLean (Waimate), accompanied by Guide Alt' Brustad, earned the distinction of being the first, party to cross the Liebig Range from the Murchison Glacier to the Cass \alley, via the new pass discovered by Brustad, an expedition from Tekapo House, Lake Tekapo, made the first ascent of the pass from the Cass \ alley. The new pass, which is at an elevation of 5500 ft.. has been named the, Ailsa Pass by Mrs Hamilton. It is only a few chains south-west of Mount Lucia (8500 ft). and is at a higher altitude than the Rutherford Pass. ■ whi'lies between Mounts Lucia and Hutton. The opening np of the alpine region at the head of the Godley and Cass rivers affords many fine opportunities to climbers, especially the Cass Valiev, the majority of the peaks of winch have yet to be climbed. A week or two ago a Tekapo party twice attempted to make an ascent of Lucia, which has not been climbed since 1891, when T. N. Brodrick, with a survey party, made the first ascent, but failed on each occasion when within a comparatively short distance of the summit of the highest peak. While on this climb Guide Brustad. of the Her-, mitnge. discovered what he thought foj be a new pass on the Liebig Range, leading into the Murchison Valley. After the return to Lake Tekapo Mr I<\ Trott organised another expedition to the Cass Valley country, and last week n party, comprising Mr Trott, the Rev. E. C. Crosse (Waihi), Dr. G. W Curtis and his son. Mr A. B. Curtis, end Messrs A, L. Taylor, C. Don, and W P. Young (Timaru), and Guide Brustad. left Tekapo for the Top Hut in the Cass Valley, making this the base for an ascent of the new pass. On the way np the Cass Valley the Tekapo party met Mrs Hamilton. Miss McLean, and Guide Brustad, who were returning to Tekapo after having crossed the Liebig Range from the Murchison country. Brustad went < n to Tekapo with his party, returning the next day to join Mr Trott’s party at the Top Hut. A party of seven made the climb to the pass on the following day. from which a magnificent view was obtained of every snow peak on the Main Divide. The view alone was worth the strenuI ons climb, and this was the opinion of every member of the party.