MOUNTAIN CLIMBERS

Hokitika Guardian, 2 September 1931, Page 5

MOUNTAIN CLIMBERS

MISS RENNIE’S STORY. (By Telegraph—Per Press Association) THE CHATEAU, September 2. Before going to sleep Miss Rennie told the story of the partys’ experiences. “Although I have eaten only one date since Saturday night, and have I not had more than a few hours sleep, I feel 1 could easily put up with another three nights on the mountain if necessary. What may be strange is the fact that after the first day we did not feel at all hungry. This was due to tlie effect of bracing air, for we were at an altitude of 7,000 most of the time.” Asked how they kept warm; Miss Rennie said they stamped their feet and with their hands rubbed each others backs, whenever they felt cold but the fact that they were wearing thick alpine clothing kept them comparatively warm. If it- were not for that they would have died from cold. The first night I did not get a wink of sleep. On the second night I slept only one hour,” said Miss Rennie. “I was scared that if I went to sleep 1 would get frostbitten. Luckily we got quite a lot of sleep on the third night. The first night was ‘worst.” “On Sunday morning when we: failed to find the Chateau, I thought I would die, but I bucked up and followed the boys down to the bush. We sheltered oil Sunday night in some ‘bush with snow falling round us. It got so cold that we had to move to a more sheltered place. Our last camping place was infinitely better. Jock Graham was marvellous. When Harris was too weak 1 to do anything, Jock kept us warm by cutting grass and sticks and making a roof for us. Wlmt I cannot understand is that at no time did we ever see a single person, nor did we hear any shouting. During the whole four days we saw absolutely no sign, of life. We did not even know our direction until we saw the sun rise this, morning. We bad one map but had to guess where we were.

“The most dreadful time was when we were coming down from the glacier and I simply closed my eyes and stumbled on anywhere. It was marvellous to watch Bell cutting steps down the ice slopes in the blizzard.” The girls said they tried hard to light a fire. They had a few wax matches but they were soaking wet from the start. They never one© obtained any dry kindling wood.