MOUNTAINEERING.

Shannon News, 27 March 1923, Page 3

MOUNTAINEERING.

> On Thursday morning, as previous- • ly reported in the Chronicle, a party consisting of Messrs. E. S. Lancaster, ' G. L. Adkin and Elsdon Clark, left Lej vin 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 I reached at 5.52, a trip which on Mr I Lancaster'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 J eft Levin by car at 5 a.m. on Thursday morning, and drove as far as the settling tanks. The busli was entered at 6 a.m., and the party followed the course of the Ohau, reaching Fern Tree Bend, which is.half-way to the confluence of the northern and southern branches of the Ohau River, at 7.20, 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 I about 40 yards. Some blue mountain duck were also seen, the first that any of the party had observed in the J Ohau, although they are to be 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 slips were found which, without doubt, were responsible for the trouble. At Confluence Camp, which Was reached at 9.45, a halt was made for 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 Ridge, the main divide between the Ohau and the Mangahao, and also the dividing line between the Horowhenua and .Wairarapa counties, reaching the top at 12.45 p.m.. The descent into the Mangahao River, which i's down a very steep broken face, was immediately commenced, and Avalanche Clearing reached at 1.53. Avalanche Clearing is the name given by Mr Lancaster to a spot discovered by him in 1909 on a trip across to Masterton, where a slip, carrying away, about five acres of the face of a hill,' 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-half was taken and the climb to the bush-iine, 3000 ft •above sea-level, and 2000 ft below the summit of Mount Dundas, was commenced, 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 at the edge of the bush, and everyone, turned in, expecting a start at 5 o'clock next morning, and that by night the trip to Eketahuna'would be practically accomplished. The weather, however, took a hand in. the game at this point, for- morning dawned wet and stormy with a thick fog hiding the. ranges. As there is no track whatever along the route, and it is 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 ile- | cided to spend the day in camp and ; hope lor an improvement of the weaI ther on the morrow.

Saturday, however, showed no sign of clearing, and as there was a possibility of running short of rations if too long a delay was made, it was decided to abandon the trip. The return trip was' made by the Gndiestone track across the saddle of tile head-waters of the southern branch, of the Ohau River, some very rough gorges being encountered on the way. Lunch was taken at the confluence of the two brandies and the intake of the water supply readied at one- o'clock, the home trip from camp to intake being done in six hours. The bush wns thoroughly wet, and all were drenched to the skin five minutes alter starting. This had the advantage, however, of milking the crossing of the river a simple matter, as they merely plunged in, it not being possible to get any wetter. As the 'river was rising, it was necessary to make all the pace possible so as not to be caught in the gorges. From Mr Varnham's residence the party got into communication with Mr W. M. Clark by telephone, and in a short time ihe arrived out by car, bringing clothes, rugs and , refreshments, which were thoroughly appreciated, and after a change the trampers were motored back to town, where, they arrived none the worse for their strenuous trip. Each man carried a pack of about 301 b, containing rations for seven days. Mr Lancaster is emphatic that it is not a. trip that,should be lightly undertaken, or without due preparation, owing to the possibility of being hung up for days through bad weather. Although unsuccessful, the Irip was voted thoroughly enjoyable, and the party is unanimous in their determination to conquer the route at some later date.