MT. HOLDSWORTH.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 9177, 28 August 1908, Page 5

MT. HOLDSWORTH.

A WINTER ASCENT. A very enjoyable ascent of Mt. Huldsworth was accomplished last Saturday and Sunday by Mr H. C. Robinson and a visitor. They left Masterton at about two o'clock on Saturday afternoon, cycling as far as Thompson's, and by dint of hard climbing made the mountain house by dark. The track was clear, though muddy, but taken all round was in good winter climbing condition. At the hut the two climbers found fuel ready for kindling, and soon had a good fire going. They were very comfortable for the night, in spite of the cold without. The ascent from the mountain house was commenced at six a.m. on Sunday, snow being met with first not far above the hut. The ascent was found to be much better than might have been anticipated. Rain had fallen on the ranges only a day or so previously, but the intervening frost had given the snow a fair crust, and made the track even better for climbing in places than it is in summer. The summit was reached exactly at 8.30, and from it a very good view to the north and west was obtained, fleecy clouds obscuring the southern prospect. Egmont looked very fine, and the absence of haze made the whole landscape for many miles around very clear. The return to the mountain was accomplished uneventfully, and the climbers reached Masterton in due course late in the afternoon, taking roughly a day to make the ascent. Mr Robinson states that so far as the snow is concerned there is l|i&tl£. risk to climbers if they adhere* to the advice given by Gu.i,de to keep to the Here the snow is not deep,, and the climbing easier, while the risk of snow drifts. is nil. There was nothing particularly/ noticeable regarding the vegetation on the lower track, which to th® climbers seemed to be in its usual condition at this time of the year, which means that the drought season made no permanent effect on tih.e bush. The rlimb was most exhilarating, and was well worth the experience.