CROSSING THE ALPS

Hokitika Guardian, 11 January 1932, Page 2

CROSSING THE ALPS

IMPRISONED FOR TWO DAYS. TRAMPING PARTY IN MOUNTAIN HUT. AN UNUSUAL EXPERIENCE. CHRISTCHURCH, Jan. y. An imprisonment for two days in the Douglas Rock Hut at the foot of the Copland Pass, with scanty food and little sleep was at once the most exciting and the most enjoyable experience of the party of 25 members of the Y.M.C.A. Tramping Club, who returned to Christchurch last night after a fortnight’s tour from Hokitika to Mount Cook. Mr C. C. Pegg, director of physical education of tbe Christchurch Y.M.C.A., who was in chaige of the party, said that the trip was the finest in the club’s history. Most particularly the Hampers were impressed with the beauty of the Copeland Valley, which they were able to see under exceptional conditions and which in their opinion compared very favourably with the Milford Track. The early morning of last Monday January 4th— found the party packing by candle-light in the Welcome Flat Hut, Westland, in preparation for their trip through the Pass. Just at dawn they started on the track, reaching Douglas Rock at 5.45 o’clock. Although the weather was then not good, there were signs of an improvement, and they went ahead on to the pass. Suddenly, as they wore climbing, clouds of mist swirled up the valley, and by the time they reached Luncheon Rock snow was falling heavily.

FOOD RATIONED. “Wo sheltered behind the rock as best we could,” said Air Pegg, “but when the barometer continued to fall, the snow to get thicker, and the wind to blow stronger, Chief Guide W illiams decided that it was impossible for us to proceed further. It was then difficult for us to see more than a few yards ahead. Reluctantly wo returned to the Douglas Rock Hut, although there were only eight bunks among 26 people and a very scanty supply of food, we decided to stay until the weather cleared. “That day our food was rationed, and we spent a rather sleepless night resting for an hour or so in turn. We were awake early on the following morning, but the rain continued and it was snowing heavily on the higher ground. All advance was still impossible, so we began to explore the hut for any spare food, discovering after diligent search a small quantity of flour, a small tin of rice, a piece of cheese that might have done service in a mouse trap, and the remains of ft piece of bacon, which had been wrapped in a bit of paper and thrown into a corner. In addition to these we had our own stores—a few loaves of bread, n few tins of meat, jam and butter, . A USEFUL COOK, “It was then that Lyn Murray, who had came over to meet us with Guide Williams, proved himself a wonderful cook. He made scopes with flour, a stew with the odds and ends, and a little porridge with some oatmeal and rice. Though we had enough for only about one meal, we made it last that day and saved enough bread to have one slice each for the following break, fast,”

That evening the Hampers debated whether some of them should return to Scott’s farm for provisions, but they decided to risk waiting until the following day. During their imprisonment in the hut they had some singsongs and discussions, and under the circumsances had a very happy and cheerful time.

“That night we dozed a little in what remained of the eight bunks—l say ‘what remained,’ for seven of them, having been used to far more than full capacity, had begun to sag ill spite of a reinforcement with ropes. Incidentally, we had only eight blankets, one mattreßS, and one pillow, In the flight the wind changed, and stars were again to be seen in the sky. At 2 o’clock in tbe morning we were packed up again, and eating our lonely piece °f bread and butter and drinking sugarless tea. At 3.45 we set put on the trail, using two candles in improvised lanterns and sundry electrictorches, The sight of 26 men going through tile bush and climbing the slopes of the valley in the darkness before the dawn, illuminated by these odd lights, must have been rather novel one to the curious kens that followed us,”

A FINE SPECTACLE, Although climbing was hard in the soft snow, they were rewarded with a magnificent view of the dawn, The spectacle over the rim of the Pass was one worth waiting many weeks to see, let alone two days. Guide Williams, indeed, declared that lie had seen it equalled only once in the crossings lie had made during tire last ten years. The Hampers climbed slowly down the ridge to the Hooker Hut, where they were delighted to find a good morning tea. Then they raced on down to the Hermitage, five of them covering the last seven miles in tile record time of one hour and 17 minutes. “Then oh! the luxury of a shave and a hath,” said Mr Pegg. On Thursday, they spent their day day in and about the Ball Hutt, exploring tile Hockstotter icefall and the many ire caves of this region. The re. turn from the Hermitage to Christ-

church was made yesterday by car and train. THE FIRST WEEK. The first week of the tour, from Hokitika to the Fox Glacier, was not eventful. The party was favoured by very good weather, and went out ol their way to explore places of special interest. They reached Waiho Gorge on December 28th, and the following day were escorted bv Chief Guide Peter Graham on to the Franz Josei Glacier. Four of their number went 011 to the Aylmer Hutt, crossed the Chancellor Ridge, and descended the box Glacier to Welieka. The others spent the day of the old year on the beutiful> walk from Waiho to Weheka, and the following day thoroughly explored the Fox Glacier under Chief Guide Hinds. They had a perfect day in the Copeland Valley, admiring particularly the fine mountain scenery and wonderful grottos of fern.