ASCENT OF EGMONT.

Shannon News, 4 September 1923, Page 3

ASCENT OF EGMONT.

SNOW AND ICE CONQUERED

(Taranaki Herald.)

Egmont, despite her heavy winter mantle of snow and ice, was climbed by two* young, local climbers, Messrs G. Mace and L. Lovell, on Sunday. The weather was beautifully fine throughout the day and after an'arduous climb occupying, ten hours, the whole Avay over snow and ice, the summit was gained and the party rewarded with a glorious \«iew of the surrounding country. „-An early start on an expedition of this kind is essential and, thoroughly equipped for a venturesome climb, the! party 'left the Old Rouse at 12.45 a.m. Guided by the light of a. moon that was nearly full, the party were quickly out of the bush on to the open track, which was found snowed | up and frozen hard, it being necessary to use an axe in places. Humphrey’,s Castle was reached at 2.30 a.m,. and from here on, after roping together, the climbers were compel letl to cut or kick steps. BREAKFAST AT 5800 FEET.

An hour later they were 5800 feet up. The moon, which had been providing ample light, went down behind a ridge, and left them in darkness. Sunrise was two hours off and as the surface of the .snow was frozen hard and good steps were necessary, it was decided to await daybreak. Xi was bitterly cold. A hole was dug in the ice with the axes . and by the light from, a small lantern which they had brought with, them, breakfast, consisting of soup and poached eggs, was prepared on a small Swiss cooker. By this time the sun was just lipping the horizon north of Mt. Tongairiro. As it rose the panorama was glorious and the warmth of its rays after the intense cold of early morning was most welcome, and photographs were secured of the glorious scene. The advent of the sun made snow goggles necessary for ns one of the climbers puifi it. “they would have been blinded in half an hour by the fierce glare.” Donning blue glasses, the climbers hacked their way around a steep shoulder into the couloir to the east of the usual summer scoria route. A CURIOUS PHENOMENON.

Here a curious phenomenon w . discovered* There wjas a. .stream ( ahoult ten feet wide and two inches } deep of small cylindrical icicles mov-f ing down the mountain at. the rate! of about twenty feet a minute. “It I sounded like a mountain torrent.” ! said one of the climbers when detailing their story to a Herald reporter, “and when we first heard it we. thought the wind was rising and blowing the icicles off the ridge.” When within 500 feet of the head ( of this couloir they crossed over The I.iza.rd and followed another gully right into the crater. “Here.” said one of the climbers, “we had to proceed very carefully for, though any nvonerlv effnipped Party should negotiate this part of the climb in perfect safety, more or less caution is needed according/ to the condition of Ihe snow.”

IN THE CRATER. “We entered the crater about 10.15,”

continued the climber. “A glorious view of part of the South Island, sD-read-.out-before''our eyes, and gradually extended all around the horizon as we neared the summit. A grand view of the whole of the surrounding country was obtained from, the .sum--mit. Ranges and peaks and even the northern coast line of the South Island was distinguishable.” The atmosphere oni top was still, a very rare occurrence, ,so< they stayed there and prepared their dinner of fried' eggs, . cocoa, etc. Several photographs were secured and the to/p'was left at noon. A series of long glissades, one of nearly 2000 feet, took them quickly down the mountain side, the house being ' reached again at 2.15, the climbers, though a little tired and burnt, being none the worse for- their strenuous outing of 13| hours on snow and ice.