SCHOOLS VISIT MOUNT COOK

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 167, 5 October 1927, Page 6

SCHOOLS VISIT MOUNT COOK

GIRLS REVEL IN ALPINE SPORTS During the recent term holidays, pa.rties from several leading secondary schools visited Mount Cook. How the pupils enjoyed themselves at this famous Alpine resort is indicated in the account published below: They piled us into buses at Temuka, 50 or 60 of us, staggering under our burdens of baggage, coats and cameras —and the journey began. Those who have travelled by bus over the Mackenzie Country roads know that this locality holds the monopoly of the sport of “bouncing,” a game which requires considerable skill in keeping the player’s head from contact with the roof as Kay found to her sorrow before we had travelled very far. Fields and hedges flew past till we left them behind for the miles of rolling tussock country which forms Canterbury backblocks. The road stretched on—a thin pencilled line, seemingly into infinity.

Hyacinth and Belinda drew sustenance from a paper big and Kay slumbered peacefully against my shoulder. Tekapo hove into sight at about half past two, a vast sheet of water, surrounded by snowcapped mountains. The driver found the hostel a welcome stopping place, so we climbed out, stretched our legs and took photographs. The road to Pukaki was very much the same. A haze of smoke hung over the country from grass fires which are always lit at this time of the year. The landscape now consisted of blackened stumps and smelt of bonfires. Dusk crept down the mountains and the snow turned pink. As night fell we had nothing but admiration for the driver as he steered us through the darkness, over crag and torrent, with the steady confidence of the old-timer that he was. Round the bend and, with much cheering, we sighted the lights of the Hermitage twinkling in their snug hollow, then tired and dusty, we tum-

bled out. Hyacinth and Belinda scattering chocolate papers to right and left. A warm welcome awaited us and what w© considered very much to the point—dinner, baths and bed In the morning we were early astir and out of doors. The blaze of glory which greeted us at the front door baffles description—mountains, towering and majestic, covered from peak to base with heavy snow, while Aorajigi stood alone, a silent sentinel over all. We were a motley array when we set oat after breakfast on an expedition up th e Hooker Valley, headed by Guide “Alf.” Father’s “plus fours,” Brother’s college socks, riding breeches and sweater, had all been called into action. Hyacinth and Belinda were complete with nailed Alpine boots and gogg.es, their pockets bulging with chocolates and acid drops. W€> trailed along the track, singly and in twos and threes—a long line of us trudging up the valley. Then our education began. We learned the tales and tragedies of the mountains, the heroism of a woman on Mount Thompson which takes, its name from her, the tall of Sebastopol, and heard the dull, threatening roar of an avalanche which turmd all faces upward as in the days of the first airplanes. A guide had been sent ahead to prepare lunch for the party and, thus fortified, we pushed on; but we did riot reach the glacier. What were glaciers? Things to learn about in geography books, and here was the most wonderful snow slide anyone could possibly imagine. We spent about an hour there, sliding and snow-fighting, then Guide Alf decreed that we must turn back if we were to be in by daylight. We gave him a lusty cheer when we reached the Hermitage. He deserved it. A Southern boys* school arrived that night and dancing was carried on in the lounge until 11 o'clock, then the gaiety was stopped for the benefit of those who did not wish to lose their beauty sleep. Peace reigned at last, disturbed only by a faint crunching sound which might, or might not, have been Hyacinth and Belinda eating pickled olives.