TRIP TO MOUNT EGMONT.

Patea Mail, Volume IV, Issue 317, 1 May 1878, Page 2

TRIP TO MOUNT EGMONT.

Mr Editor, —As it has been suggested by you that a slight sketch of our recent trip to the Mountain might be interesting to your readers, and of some help to anyone thinking of making a similar journey, I will now give a short account of our doings, and'hbg you to excuse all shortcomings in the narrative, as I have not the honour of belonging to the Fourth Estate, and therefore these jottings may appear somewhat dull. With this preface, I will begin my story at once. ' " On Thursday evening, April 18th, three of us, viz., Messrs Weiss, Horner, and myself rode out of Carlyle, fully equipped for our expedition, eacli having a large swag fixed in front' of his saddle. It was a beautiful moonlight evening, and we rode along conversing cheerfully, all unconscious of impending evil, until we reached the rising township of Norrnanby, where we intended to pass the night. This was about 11 p.m., and we were surprised to find the town dark and silent. Making our way to one of the hotels, we knocked vigorously, and at last the head of the landlord appeared from an upper window, and he enquired what wo wanted at that unseasonable hour. We replied that we only wished for a shelter for the night, for ourselves and our horses, and after continued remonstrance on both sides, and having convinced the landlord, who is evidently a believer in the old Curfew law, that we intended no harm, v/e were eventually admitted. Next morning we were up early, and at 8 o’clock started for Inglewood. The first portion of the Mountain Road as far as the Patea River, is much as it was a year ago, when I last rode through, except that now all the streams are bridged, but after passing the inn, I was struck with the amount of work done in cuttings and road formation, and the large number of men, I should think over 100, employed on the works. From the new township of Stratford, we got a splendid view of the mountain, and congratulated ourselves that the weather promised so well for our undertaking. Stratford looks rather a dismal place just now, as the fallen bush is being burnt, and at present there are only three or four houses and a few whares and tents scattered along the main line of road, hut I should fancy from its position, it may he wonderfully improved in another year. We reached Inglewood in time for dinner, and after that important event was over, we strolled out to make some purchases in the provender line, as wc anticipated earn ping out for two days. Wc found all the shops closed, it being Good Friday, hut on hearing that we were strangers and the cause of our journey, the proprietors of said shops sold us what we required, and after carefully packing our swags afresh, wc resumed our ride about 3.30 p.m. We rode as far as the Junction, about three miles from New Plymouth, and then turned up the Mangorei Koad. It was now getting dark, and the thick clouds that hung on the ranges, and suggested heavy rain, struck a chill to our hearts, for we had determined, if possible, to cross the ranges that night, and camp at the foot of the Mountain. Here Mr Weiss’ experience proved valuable, for being an old campaigner in this line, ho suggested that we should beg two'common wine bottles and by knocking the bottoms out and dropping a bit of candle into the nock convert each into a good lantern. We called at a farm house and found no difficulty in getting what wc required, and then rode slowly on, enlivening the way by a few duetts and snatches of songs until we reached Upjolm’s clearing at the foot of the ranges, where, after securing a rickety gate, wc turned our horses loose, and very glad of their liberty they seemed to be, as they had carried us nearly fifty miles since morning. We put our saddles and briddles in a deserted whare, and then lit a fire in the open and had tea. It was now 9 p.m., and as we had a long walk before us, wc each selected on. AApine-stoclc, shouldered our respective swags, and lit our two externporized lanterns, and then proceeded on our way in single file. The track soon became frightful, and we sunk into mud over Our ancles at nearly every step, and had it not been for our bottles, which threw a dim light around, we could not possibly have got on. The appearance of my companions toiling painfully on with a heavy load on their backs, reminded mo irresistibly of the picture of the Pilgrim with his load of sins strapped on behind walking through the Slough of Despond that I used to see in my !£ Pilgrim’s Progress,” and I expect we felt our loads quite as heavy as he did. Three houx-s of this cheerful travelling brought us out of the busk and near the top of the ranges, which are nearly 4,000 feet high. We then got' on faster, and though we were in the midst of a thick mist, which made everything damp, it would sometimes lift for a minute, and give us a moonlight view of the hills around, and occasionally of the grand old mountain itself. We now began to descend, and at one place had a rather dangerous scramble along the face of a slip which had carried the track away, and at last, about 1.30 a.m, having reached a spot on the lower side of the ranges where we could see parties had pi’eviously camped, we decided to stop there for the night, and immediately pitched our tent. The ground was saturated with moisture, and the only way we could see of avoiding an attack of rheumatism next day, was by spreading the- fly of the tent on the ground, over that our macintoshes, and then each rolling himself in a blanket, to get what sleep he could. My pillow was a log of wood, which I found uncommonly hard, and the uneomfortableness of this, together with the extreme cold, woke me up every half hour or so, though I think my companions slept better. We all got up at 5.30 a.m., and were delighted to find that the mist had cleared off, and that it was a glorious morning. After some consultation, we determined to leave our tent where it was, and also some of the provisions—to take enough for three meals with us, with our macintoshes, and cross' the swamp to the usual camping place at

the foot of the mountain, and there breakfast. The swamp, which lays between the ranges and the mountain, extends for several miles in length, and is of varying breadth, from say a quarter of a ibile to two miles, and along its whole length the Stony River winds peacefully. We easily followed the track to the edge of the swamp, crossed the Stony River, and then ploughed through the swamp on the other side," the part we crossed being about a quarter of a mile wide. We then noticed a cut track through some burnt scrub, and a smart walk of half an hour or so brought us to the usual camping ground. We. now attempted to light a fire apd cook breakfast, but every stick and piece of wood was soaking wet, and it was only after an hour’s patient toil on the part of Mr Weiss that we succeeded in getting a decent fire under weight, and were able each to enjoy a good pannikin full of cocoa, and some grilled beafstakes. The Mountain was now before us in all its rugged beauty, the rays of the rising sun just lighting up the summit; it ■ seemed to fill half the heavens, and as we looked at its deep,f;avines and steep cliffs, we thought it was worth while to come all that distance for such a glorious climb. Aftcrbreakfasting, weheld along “korero” as to our route. Mr Weiss had been as far as the swamp before, but knew-nothing of the way up the Mountain, and of course Mr Horner and myself were equally ignorant, as this was our first trip to those parts. The only tiling- we had to guide ns was a rough skelch'map, which-rather led us astray than otherwise, and a description from the Taranaki Budget of a similar excursion by three gentlemen from New Plymouth, which we found pretty accurate. It was at last determined to take a track crossing a little stream close to the camping ground and follow it till wc saw where it led to. We tramped for some distance through bush, and when we emerged on the top of a ridge wc began to suspect we had taken the route that leads to Bell’s Falls, but as we had now come a mile or so we determined to keep on and see the Falls. After 45 minutes walking fiom the camping ground we struck the Stony River again, and being guided by a loud roar of water looked up the stream, and about 100 yards off beheld the celebrated Falls. It was certainly very pretty, but the volume of water was not sufficient to make it grand. The fall is caused by the Stony River running between two steep cliffs, and then falling over a ledge of rocks some ninety feet into a deep pool. The river is about 15 feet wide where it rushes over the ledge. We thought the Fall was certainly worth coming to see, as also the grand and rugged cliffs about, but we were sorry that wc had lost so much time in lighting our fire, ami by this unintentional excursion from our main enterprise, as wo ought by this time to have been half-way up the Mountain. We retraced our steps as quickly as possible, and reached the camping ground by 10.30 a.m. I now advised that we should follow back the track wc came along in tire morning and see if there was any indication of another track running in the direction of the Mountain. This was agreed to and going back about a hundred yards we noticed a bottle stuck on a stick, and some other sticks pointing in the direction of the Mountain. We followed the course thus indicated up, but soon lost the track in some thick bush, where we wandered about for half an hour. Wc tried back some little distance, and at last found a track thatled us to the edge of a deep ravine, with a stream flowing at the bottom. This agreed with the account in the Budget , so we scrambled down to the stream,'and followed its windings down till it joined another and larger stream coming down a second ravine from the Mountain. We now began our ascent proper of the Mountain, going up the course of the stream ami jumping from boulder to boulder. At 1 o’clock we halted for lunch and felt much cheered that we were at last on the right track. After half an hour’s rest we started again in high spirits, and could not help admiring the giant cliffs on each side of ravine we Avere in, which towered up several hundred feet. We came at last to a place where a spur divided the main ravine, one smaller ravine leading to the left and the other keeping to the right, and as ill luck Avould have it Ave chose the latter, which seemed the easier of the two. It Avas all right for a time, but at last Ave came to some scrub, and as Ave had been particularly cautioned to avoid this, avo climbed the spur to our left, Avhich was very steep ; but Avhen Ave got to the top Ave found avc had not bettered our position, for the scrub Avas still in front and on each side of us. We could see some I’cav hundred yards up Avhere the scrub ended and the moss began, and avg determined in an evil hour to push our Avay through I that scrub. It Avas the most impenetrable thicket either I or my friends had ever seen, Avith branches as thick as a man’s arm spreading in every direction. Suffice it to suy we Avere two hours pushing through it, or rather fighting our Avay, and ■ when at last avc emerged, we were thoroughly exhausted Avith our efforts. We pushed on up, howoA-er, and soon got on to the moss and up to the level of the snow line. Here Mr Weiss declared he felt thoroughly exhausted, and Mr Homeland myself Avere not much better, the scrub having taken more out of us than ten miles of walking Avould. It being half past four, avg thought it unwise to proceed, unless avc Avished to be benighted on the summit, and so avg sat down for a spell, Mr Horner going a little ' further up to see if he could reach the hump, Avhich loomed just aboA r e us. _ I found by a pocket barometer I had Avith me, that avc Avere about 6,500 feet aboAm sea level, and consequently about 1,700 feet from the top. The day was beautifully fine and mild, and the sun shone clearly, but all avc could see was a vast sea of clouds stretching in every direction, about 2,000 feet beloAV ns. Mr Horner returning Avithout succeeding in his object, avg began to descend, and took the ragged ravine we should have come up. We just came down in time, -for avg found it A-ery dark at the base of the mountain, and had some difficulty in keeping to the right track. We eventually got safely out of the bush, and were delighted to get to the camping ground, where avc had left our macintoshes, and some provisions. Wehad not so much difficulty this time in lighting a fire, and Avere soon enjoying a good meal, Avhen Mr Weiss startled us bysaying that a rat Avas trying to taste his knee. We could see the creatures all round, and they seemed in no Avay terrified by fire or human beings, and came so close

that Ave could have knocked them over with a stick.

After tea, my companions got very' drowsy, and I could see them nodding round the fire. To keep awake, avc proposed a recitation, and Mr Weiss gave us one. After which I followed, but perceiving that both my companions wore asleep, I concluded it had not received the W attention it deserved, and desisted from any further attempt to keep them awake. We had determined to try and cross the swamp-by moonlight, and if possible reach our tent, and at 9 (/clock, the moon being up, avg started. We soon found it Avas impossible to keep the track, and made up our minds to pass the night where avg were, in the midst of some dry scrub. We started a fire, and lay down in our macintoshes, Avith a stone, or anything else handy, for a pillow. We were 3.000 feet above sea level, and the night was verycold, and to add to our discomfort, a thick driving mist came on. We woke up nearly every half hour Avith our feet half frozen, and replenished the fire, which avg kept up all night. At daAvn, we made preparations for breakfast, and when that was over, tried to find our way across the swamp ; this, which had been easy enough the day before, was now a matter of difficulty," as we were in the midst of so thick a fog, that Ave could not see fifty yards in any direction, and lost all land marks that might have served to guide us. It Avas proposed -we should stay Avhere wc Avere till the fog lifted, but as avc did not see any chance of this happening for several hours, avg thought it better to strike tbe river, and Avalk up tbe bank until we found the place where we had crossed the previous day. We sunk up to our knees at nearly every step, but Avere exceedingly pleased, after folloAving the river bank for about two hundred yards, to recognize the crossing place, and soon avg arrived at ointent, This avc took down, and making up om- SAvags, again ascended the ranges. When Ave reached the top, avc saw nothinghut clouds and mist below us, and in the distance the peaks of Egmontandßuapaho, which looked awful in their lonely grandeur above the clouds. We. found the walk down much easier than our tiresome ascent, but at only one spot did avo get any vieAv of the country, and what avc could see seemed mainly hills and bush.

On reaching Upjolm’s clearing, avc had. lunch and a good feed of blackberries, Avhich abound near the whare, and were delighted to find onr horses all safe. We soon mounted and rode intoNcAV Plymouth, and speedily forgot our previous troubles Avhen sealed at the tea table of the Masonic Hotel, it being evident to ns that the mountain air had wonderfully sharpened our appetites. Next morning I started on my.homeward Avay, and reached Carlyle safely on Tuesday the 23rd instant, while my companions remained a day longer at New Plymouth, to see the sights of the town.

So ended our expedition, which though rather hurried, and abounding in hard Avork, Avas on the whole, very pleasant. We intend trying the mountain again next season, and after our experience tins time, Avould have no difficulty in reaching the top easily.; but I should advise anyone thinking of a similar trip, to take a guide Avith them, unless some of their party have been there before. Trusting I have not taken up too much of your valuable space, —I am, &c., R. C. TENNENT. We direct the attention of the owners of trespassing cattle to the following original and ingenious notice, Avhich an indignant fanner posted on the gate of a sixacre oat paddock— “ Notis. —If any man’s or Avoman’s coavs or oxen gets in these here otes, his or her tails will- be cut off, as the case may be. lam a Christian, and pa mi taxes, but darn a man avlio lets his critters run luse, sez I.” —Exchange.

ftr.mgcrs and country settlers coming to Carlyle, are A r ery often at a loss to knoAV Avhich is the best and cheapest General Drapery and Clothing Establishment in the. district. R. A. Adams’ Cardigan House, offers special advantages that can be met Avith noAvhere else in the district. He keeps the largest and best assorted stock of every description of drapery goods, imported direct—and from the best colonial houses ; Avhich, being bought on the most advantageous terms, and having thorough knowledge of the business, enables him to . offer goods o£ sterling quality at pi ices that cannot be improA'ed on by any other house in New Zealand. Every article is marked in plain figures, from which there is no doA-iation ; so that"% inexperienced people are as well served m as the best judges, the terms being net t cash, Avithout rebate or abatement of any kind. Note the address —R. A. Adams ; " Cardigan House, nearly opposite ToAvry Hall, Carlyle.—ada'T.

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