Climbing Mount Cook.

Patea Mail, 14 March 1882, Page 3

Climbing Mount Cook.

THREE TRIES.—GRAND SCENERY.

(press association telegram.) Timarn, 12th.

The alpine tourists, comprising the Rev W. L. Green, and two Swiss guides, returned to Timarn on Saturday night, after successfully ascending mount Cook. Two unsuccessful attempts were made, and in the third a stop was made at an altitude of 7000 feet, nearly under the peak. The ascent is not very difficult as far as climbing is concerned, but is extremely dangerous on account of the almost incessant avalanches which roll down the mountain sides. The weather was unfortunately cloudy, so that no view was obtained from the summit. Mr Green’s time was limited, or he would have ascended some of the other peaks, which he considers could be easily done.

Starting at 6 a.m. on the 2nd March, and travelling by ice the whole distance, and the journeys lengthened through the party having to make numerous detours to avoid the tracks of almost incessant avalanches, they reached the summit at 6.20 p.m. It was impossible to return to their bivouac that night, and they stood on a narrow ledge 200 ft below the summit, all night, wet through and without food. They descended safely next morning, and reached their camp at 7 p.m., having been on their feet 37 hours, and the last 22 hours without food. They then set out for Timarn, and arrived safely. The alpine scenery is described as surpassingly grand, exceeding anything of the kind on the Swiss Alps. The guides, naturally prepossessed in favor of their own country, concur with Mr Green in saying this. The weather was generally favorable for mountaineering, only five wet days being met with in the month. The guides are astonished at this, as they say that five fine days in a whole season are seldom obtained at Home. Mr Green proceeds to Christchurch and Home by the next steamer.

Honor to the Tourists. Ohirstcburch, this day.—Mr Green and his companions are to be entertained at dinner this evening, by the Christchurch Athletic Club.

A correspondent writing from Lake Tekapo district to a Lyttelton journal on 4th March, says that nothing has been heard of the Alpine tourists since Mr Barclay left them. The party appear to have had a narrow escape in crossing the Tasman river, in the bed of which their waggonette yet remains. The tourists were sanguine that they would succeed in scaling Mount Cook. Old and experienced Mackenzie country shepherds laugh at the idea as wildly absurd; but they, it must be remembered, can scarcely be acquainted with the methods adopted in surmounting Alpine obstacles. Upon the whole, the weather has been favorable ; though on the Saturday after the tourists commenced their ascent there was a severe snow storm, and it was bitterly cold. [A telegram states that the ascent has been successfully made, and the party had reached Timaru.J

but one of the family. A little seven-yoar-old half-brother is not expected to live. Snell himself took the death of the various members of his family much to heart. When his mother was buried it is said that he begged permission to attend the funeral, saying : “ Send a hundred men to guard me; cover me with chains double-locked ; but, for God’s sake, let me see the last of ray poor old mother.” He was not permitted to go.