MOUNTAINEERING.

Otaki Mail, 31 March 1923, Page 4

MOUNTAINEERING.

On Thursday morning, as previously reported in the ".Mail," a party consisting of Messrs. E. S. Lancaster, G. L, Adkin and Eisdon Clark, ien Levin to make another attempt to cross the Tararuas to Eketahuna by way of .Mount Dundas.' Starting at daylight, the timber-line below Mt. Dundas was reached at 5.52, a trip.which on MiLancaster's previous attempt took two days. Unfortunately, owing to unfavourable weather, the trip had to be abandoned at this point.

Mr Lancaster, in conversation with our representative, said the party left Levin by car at 5 a.m. on Thursday morning, and drove as far as the settling tanks. The bush was entered at (J a.m., and Hie party followed the course of the Ohau, reaching Fern Tree Bend, which is hall-way to the

confluence of ibe northern and southern branches of the Ohau River, at 7.it), and arriving at the confluence at 8.35. During this part of the trip a magnificent 16-pointer stag was sighted, and gave a splendid shot at about 40 yards. Some blue mountain duck were also seen, the first that any of the party had observed in the Ohau, although they are to lie found in the Mangahao and tributaries. A sharp look-out was kept for the cause of the muddying of the Levin water supply recently, and near the confluence of the river two small .-lips were found which, without doubt, were responsible for the trouble. At Confluence Camp, which was reached j at 9.45, a halt was made fo*r lunch. Another start being made, the party commenced the climb proper, striking up a small ridge between the northern and southern branches of the river which led them to Deception the main divide between the .Ohau and the Mangahao, and also the I dividing line between the Horowhenua and Wairarapa counties, reachI i n n- the top at 18.45 p.m. The descent ! into the Mangahao River, which is down a very steep broken face, was immediately commenced, and Avalanche Clearing reached at 1-53. Avn--1 [anche Clearing is the name given by Mr Lancaster to a spot discovered by I ~i m in moo on a trip across to Mas-

terton where a slip, carrying away about Ave acres of the face of a mil,

has occurred, the whole of the mass of rocks, soil and trees forming a dam in the Mangahao River. A wild bull was seen at the clearing. Here a spell of an hour and a-hnlf was taken and the climb to the bush-iine, 3000 ft. above sea-level, and 20Q0f1 below the summit of Mount Dundas. was com-

menced the Alpine meadow being reached at 5.52, the whole climb being done in the very fine time of nine hours instead of two days as is usual. A snug camp was pitched just ;,.t ihe edge of the bush, and everyone turned in, expecting a start at o'clock next morning, and that by : niH.t !t>e trip to Eketahuna would be practically accomplished. The weather however, took a hand in the I game at this point. for morning dawned wet and stormy with a. thick j r,,g hiding the ranges. As there is i,„ track whatever along the route. I al „| ii i s only possible to proceed by | picking the ridges which lead in the desired direction, a thing requiring ; fair observation conditions, and also |as precipices of several hundred feet ' are common, one Of which might be stumbled over in the fog, it was de- ; tided to .spend the day in camp and hope for an improvement ol the weather on the morrow. ; Saturday, however, showed no sign of clearing, ami as there was a I possibility oi running .-lion ol rations j if too long a delay was made, it was 1 decided to abandon the trip. | The- retain trip was made by the 1 Girdlestone track across the saddle of j the head-waters of the southern branch ol the Ohau River, some very rough gorges being encountered on Hie "way. Lunch was taken at the confluence of the two branches and the intake ol the water supply reach--1 ed at one o'clock, the home trip from camp to intake being done in s'is hours. The bush was thoroughly wet, and all were drenched to the skili five minutes alter starting. This had the advantage, however, of making the crossing ol the river a simple matter, as they merely plunged in, ii not being possible to get any wetter. As the river was rising, it was necessary to make all the pace posjlsible so as not to be caught in the {gorges. from Mr Varnhams residence the party got into eommunica- ! Hon with Mr W. M. Clark by tele- { phone,.and in a short time he arrived out by .car. bringing clothes, rugs and refreshment,-, which were thoroughly I appreciated, and after a change the I s trampers were motored back to town, where they arrived none the worse for their strenuous trip- Each man carried a pack of about 3011 c containing rations for seven days. Mr Lancaster is emphatic that it i.- not a trip that should be lightly undertaken, or j without due preparation, owing to the I possibility of being hung up for days 1 , through bad weather. Although unIi successful, the trip was voted thoroughly enjoyable, and the party is ' unanimous In their determination to „ conquer the route at some later date.