EGMONT'S FIRST GUIDE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 120, 8 October 1912, Page 2

EGMONT'S FIRST GUIDE.

SOME EXPERIENCES. Climbed to the summit of Mount Egmont 89 times—that is the record of Mr. Henry Peters, of Kaimiro, who has many an interesting, tale to tell about his early mountaineering experiences. Mr. Peters' name is associated with the mountain probably more than that of anybody else. He settled at Kaimiro in 1881, and for a considerable time had the unenviable distinction of being the only settler located between Egniont Village and Mount Egmont. It was he who in November, ISS4, discovered the

present route to the top of the mounl tain by way of Egmont road. While hunting in the tush for some of his cattle lie got somewhat out of his usual latitude, and it was during his wanderings that his eyes were opened to the possibilities of the route in question. When he got back lie hastened to New Plymouth and reported his discovery, ,'but so convinced were the authorities j that the mountain was impassable from j this side that they eyed him askance, !and it took him some time, remarked Mr. Peters to a News representative, to convince them that he was not inflicted with bush madness. Eventually, how- | ever, a survey was, at his suggestion, made early the following year, and before many months had elapsed a track was cut through along his route.

THE OLD AND THE NEW

In strange contrast with the luxurious accommodation now afforded, travellers eager to make the ascent in those days cheerfully put up with all sorts of hardships and inconveniences. A rough-and-ready shelter was provided by llr.Veters, where the old house at present stands, in the shape of a tent. This was repeatedly levelled by the elements, and Mr. Peters recounts how on one particularly wild night a party of enthusiasts slept under a primitive shelter constructed of blankets pieced together with hairpins, borrowed from the lady members of the company. The suggestion to build an accommodation-house had to be urged many times before it was finally adopted in 18!ll. A slice of the Marsland Hill barracks was utilised for the construction of the building, which was not formally opened till January 28, 1802. Mr. Peters was its first caretaker, and he remained in charge for six years, during which time he acted as guide to numerous parties.

TOLL OF THE MOUNTAIN,

Xo persons wen* lost on (ho mountain during Mr. Peters' time, but he remembers four tragedies unwitnessed by man. Once a dead body was found on the ton of the peak, and on another occasion tho remains of a man who had been missing for 18 months were accidentally discovered on the summit. Two people from Hawera also likewise paid the toll of the mountain. It is so easy, explained Mr. Peters, for a person to lose his life on the summit. "You feel fired and fagged out with exertion," lit added. "You sit down in a sheltered nook, and go to sleep, and there is an end of you. By next morning there may be '2oft of snow on top of you.'* THE WEAKER (?) SEX.

"Speaking of my long acquaintance with the mountain, there is one thing which has been very forcibly impressed on me," remarked Mr. Peters. "That is that we ns men are greatlv mistaken when we think (hat we lire stronger than women: that we can stand more endurance in the open. The womenfolk beat us hollow in elimbiiw Hit* mountain and enduring the hardships entailed. lam quite sure of it."

In adding that the mountain would, become more popular if it were more widely known, Mr. Peters said there was no _ other cone so pi rfect in shape like it in the world, except in Japan. tie had himself seen that, but it did not come up to that of Mount Egmont.