A DIFFICULT TRIP

Hokitika Guardian, 7 January 1933, Page 2

A DIFFICULT TRIP

STRACHAN PASS TO WEST COAST,

CHRISTCHURCH, January 6.

'Dogged by bad' weather during every day of their trip, except the first, two membere of the Canterbury iMountaineering Club, Messrs 1 Tucker and H. Andrews, arrived back in Christchurcn yesterday after crossing from the Ra. kaia river •to • the W©st Coast, via Sltrachan Pass and th© Wanganui fiver. As they were three day©’ overdue in Harihari, 6<®e anxiety was at first felt, more especially because the vicinity of the Lambert gorg e down which they were expected to com© hag a bad reputation as wild country among the few climbers and trampers who have penetrated . the district. Leaving on Christmas Eve, the two men went up the .Rakaia to the .Ramsay and ■ Clarke glaciers, the latter leading on to the Stfachan Pass. The crossing of th© Pass was made in toe only fine weather of the trip. Night was spent on ,a moraine near the Lord river, arid on the, following day they struck up about 500 feet above the Lambert gorge. H e re they were caught by a nor’-wester, and for three and a half days they were forced-to ©tay in this position, surrounded by heavy fog. They then climbed round the Lambert gorge, over the B"1' - Lookout, down, to • the Wftnganfii . In. heavy ram. Fujrtheri difficulty npw awaited the mountaineers, for the river avas flooded Mr.ojUy a West Coast river can ue, and it v wat?: .impossible tp, attempt tlie crossing’. 'lt wa© thre e days before the crossjng.. eould -be. made, • after several atempts, and, even then, it was a risky ta.sk. After a four hours’ battle 'with the. torrent the gear was finally got across jlast" Till'd ay, not before trouble had been r experienced through the rope, qatclpng in a submerged boulder. The rest of the trip down the Wanganui to' Harihari' was made in good time, and the party, which had intended- to .Climb. Lambert Peak, en route and still arrive at Harihari on Suriday,' finally arrived o;n’ Wednesday..

It will be remembered that this trip was! made by a’party of club members on' a previous occasion,' when much of the-country was traversed-for the fi rsit time.