THE MINCHIN PASS

Hokitika Guardian, 8 March 1933, Page 8

THE MINCHIN PASS

A CROSSING MADE. CHRIISTOHURCH, March' The Mihc-hin : Paste, one of ; the routes to Westland over the’'Pouller' oividc,‘ was crossed a Week ago by t\Vo members of the Canterbury 'Ma'untairieeriai'g Q[b. ''Jhii-j is believed ; to i A be'"the first crossing, Of the ' pass; 'T«-e trip took- three and a half-''days from the' time of leaving Cates to the' ' arrival at : Aickons; the "first .station oil', the railway past Otira. Froin 'Caste, the route followed was along the Mount White station’ road to the Andrews 1 s'.reamy 'whidli "led the party"'Wi to Hialleluhth Flat 1 at' the. he.li,d'of "the river'.' Tllfe first' night's: camp Was pitched 1 at the. function' of itlie Casey stream, and the Poultei river. ' Travelling up the fairly easy river flats of the "Pioultbrthe tiro turned "up the Minchiri* stream to tile' Alike of the sariiehaSme. Lake Mnichin 'is a. place.'that i@ : little visited, ’evbri by trampe-rs arid 'climbers. It is only a. small -stretch 'of Water, not more than ‘half :i a niile long;'‘hut i't- is'’set in tude of 2440 feet. ' "

vb A .small ’Stream flows into the head of the’- lake,' "wllrire it ’ f-dfiris a' delta*, 1 and this "Stream 'Was followed ’up "to-' :wards 1 'the mountains.'' tt'Ted •through" a steep- 'arid narrow' gorg'd, at the entrance of which the. second trjghcMg bfiiih p '‘.Wari ’■ pitched' On'" the third' day tlie abfenaiP'pkss "was rego-tia-tdel, an'd ! ffom''Th e' divit!e a steep' boulder-iSt'rbira 1 drebk typical of" the’ AVeist Coast' Wa-s followed 'dbwn to tlie ■ Teremakari river. Ciritp was pitched at 'the ' junction, and .it wills' an easy ma'-ter next day to'follow tlio'TereWiakari do'wn to' 'Aiokeris. The- d.mbers were' lucky in' avoiding bad' weather, wliilch was t|i/eatemr.g durirg the whole of the trip '.arid broke when it was' finished.

The pass’ itself is tussocky and free from snow at present. Its altitude, Was estimated at, about 4300 feet. .-