CAVE ON MT. EGMONT

Taranaki Daily News, 6 April 1918, Page 5

CAVE ON MT. EGMONT

to « of Watford, according l«r™ • paper ' has discovered q wE T ™ Ve on summit of Mt ° penine ' " about fifteen feet m diameter, lies on the north-west side of the crater ice directly below the trig. statioT S rock „n this side of the crater is very ™ v r crumbUn S. and thus, as the we has melted has slid down through ' iZ T mDS formil, S a On entermg the cave one is struck by the aobaetrr CB beautiful stratified ice, batches of deep blue ice indicating no doubt agelong pressure. The roof of nelwf Ca ",V kened t0 the . a theatre dress-eircle; tbotxgli • ornng to the flow of melting ice it has vault appearance of a fan-ribbed

ome idea of the size of the caV» can gained by these measurements actually taken by Mr. Burrell: At its widest . point the cave measures 44ft; the depth from back to edge of opening 27ft, while the floor at its lowest is 20ft below the Tho ta!l,s of rock sliding into the cave unfortunately diminishes the apparent size of the cave. It is interesting to recall that when Mr. Burrell made the ascent thirteen months ago, he saw the beginning of this cave which since then has increased twenty fold. Now no words can adequately describe the beautv of the interior with its glistening bine and white ice Judging by the melting ice tne cavo m still increasing In size, and will no doubt continue to do so until winter lavs her mantle over the sum- * lmt. Owing to the position of the cave it is reached practically by the morning sun only, whose rays are directed away from, not into the cave. Owing to its 1 being close to the summit aiid lyin<* on the highest portion of the <Wter° ice, there can be little or no sonkas*. What is causing the melting is hard to conceive and Mr. Burrell can offer no positive explanation. In conclusion it must be noted that great care should be exercised in approaching the cave opening i from the centre of the crater. The roof (from the back to the opening rapidly thins out to a knife edge, which Would easily give way under the weight of aay iperson capaMe of climbing th» mountain!.