Mount Egmont.

Manawatu Herald, 25 February 1892, Page 2

Mount Egmont.

A correspondent of the Taranald Budget "gives the following particulars of an ascent of Mount Egmont:— Getting to the "radius line " is a simple matter if there are no huge rata trees across the road, but from that point the labour begins. On a rainy day, or on the day succeeding a wet night, the four miles of track to the "house" are bad, and skirts should not attempt 'them- unless they are worn by strapping country lasses. But so porous is the nature of the formation that after twenty- four hours of fine weather the track becomes fairly good walking. It is by no means steep, the grade being on the average less than that in Devon street from the Bank. of New Zealand to the White Hart. It will be a simple matter at some future date to construct a good road right up to the Mountain House. The conveying of luggage on packhorses up the track to the house is quite an established industry. The visitor should roll his bedding in .tight, long, and rather thin ..rolls. The clumsy sackfulls that are usually put upon the horses stand out too far to ride comiortably, and' are, moreover, in danger of catching on a thousand snags on the way up. On Thursday last the writer made one of a party of seventeen, including the guide, Mr Peters, who ascended the mountain. The party consisted of one married lady, six (very) young ladies, three boys, one of them between 8 and 9 years old, and seven men. The whole of this party reached the highest point, and spent two hours on the top. There were three points in which, according to guide Peters, this party broke the record.: First, it was the largest party that ever attempted the mountain at one time. Second, it was the only large party that ever took all its members to the top. There were, including a party, of three from Eapdnga, twenty persons on the summit at one time. Third, the boy, Master Stanley Collis, was the youngest that had ever reached the highest point. A younger; boy had been near the top, but not actually on it. Perhaps there is another point in which this party was singular ; namely, that it was photographed on the snow' and on the highest point of rock. Mr W. A. Collis -obtained some splendid views and stereosoopic slides, including a view of the spot where Southwood's body was found, and from whence it had been removed only the day before. It may be stated here that those who have seen the spot know that Inspector Pardy's ingenious theory is not correct. People ascending from the Manaia side, but who had not reached the very top, oould not be seen from the rooks above where Southwood lay. Peters took the party up on firm footing, saving an immensity of labour, but he brought it down ■ the scoria, again saving great toil. Ail hands reaohed the house at a brisk pace, singing merrily, and surprising the other visitors by the few signs of faDigue they displayed.