SKI CLUB EXCURSION

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1035, 28 July 1930, Page 14

SKI CLUB EXCURSION

RUAPEHU ORGANISATION PREPRARES SPORTS CAMP AT NATIONAL PARK The snows of Ruapehu will be riven by the skis of ardent alpinists when the Ruapehu Ski Club members assemble next month from several districts of the North Island for the annual excursion at Tongariro National Park. Members of tlie club in Auckland are already contemplating their stay at the mountains with all the keenness of those who learn to appreciate the moods of the snow-capped volcanic peaks in the heart of the North Island.

Mr. A. D. Mead, the president of the club, will lead an expedition of probably 20 Auckland members, but the largest party will go from Wanganui, where the exceptionally keen interest in mountaineering is principally due to the enthusiastic work of the late Mr. AV. Salt, of Wanganui Bast, during his long service for the club in official capacities. There will be other members present from Main Trunk centres.

The parties will arrive at Chateau Tongariro on August 28 and the excursion will end on September 8. The organisation from Auckland is being handled by Mr. Mead and members of the party will stay either at Chateau Tongariro or the Lodge. There will be from 50 to 60 in the party. Near the end of the excursion, the club's annual winter sports will be held. Scoria Flat, an elevated area on Ruapehu, is the usual space employed for the competitions. There is permanent winter snow there, and a great advantage is given over lower levels, easier of access, but with snow which cannot be relied upon for sports purposes. Two days will be occupied with tho competitions, which will include climbing, downhill running, turning, jumping and cross-country racing. The jumping hill is artificially prepared. On Ruapehu it is moderately sized and a considerable leap from it would be 50 feet. The inter-provincial relay championship, which Auckland won last year, is always a great attraction. AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP As senior alpine organisation, the Ruapehu Club inaugurated the New Zealand Amateur Skiing Championship. In this contest, members of other clubs throughout the Dominion can compete. CLIMB TO WARM LAKE Tho club always makes a feature of its annual climb to the warm lake in the crater of Ruapehu. The ascent occupies six hours for an average party under ordinary conditions, and the descent, four hours. Much quicker times can be made by experienced climbers, of course. Besides this Important ascent, the club conducts 1 trips to the slumbering volcano, Ngauruhoe, and to the picturesque Tama Lakes, perched on the divide between Ruapehu and Ngauruhoe. Sometimes, the Blue Lake on Tongariro is visited. Several slopes on Tongariro offer admirable skiing fields, but tho difficulty for party contests is the meagre accommodation. Tho onlv whares available are the Mangatepopo Hut, to the west, and the Ketelahi Hut, on tho north of the mountain.

The vast playground under the longariro National Park Board has an area of 150,000 acres. It is, in fact,, the top of the North Island, for the Waikato and the Wanganui rivers have their sources fed by the snows of the largest mountains of the North Island. Wild scenery of captivating grandeur lills every corner of the mountainland, and the interesting places include the Taranaki. Siglev and Tawhai Falls. Soda Spring. Silica Springs, the Red Crater oi* Tongariro, v\ hakapapa Gorge, Te Kol-atu and Tama summits, Oirdlestone Peak, the Haunted Wliare and the glacier on the southern slopes of Ruapehu. To the north is lovely Lake Roto-a-Ira. It is only a day’s journey to Pipiriki, on the Wanganui River, or to Wairakei’s hot springs, and a morning’s drive to Tokaanu, on Taupo Moana.