ASCENT OF RUAPEHU.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 3061, 4 December 1908, Page 3

ASCENT OF RUAPEHU.

The following account of an ascent of Mount Ruapehu, by Mr E. H. Snow and his two sons, D'Oyly and Frank, late of Levin, but now of Rangataua, will prove of interest to many of our readersOn Monday, November 23rd, the weather being favourable, we, on foot and each with a swag of provisions and necessaries, started from Rangataua at H a.m., with the intention of following the Mangaehuehu stream to its source —nine miles through dense bush, five open country. Following the eastern bank we soon got beyond all cattle tracks, and travelling by the sound of the stream and our compass bearings, having no other guide excepting a stick cut here and there or bent over and an occasional blaze mark (evidently one of Dr Cockane's routes of last year), we with two , slashers and a tomahawk, left a fairly clear track as we passed along. At 4.30 p.m., after a tramp of about 8 hours, we pitched a fly camp and with field bunk of moss near a small _ stream of clear water. During the * night and next day it rained heavily, bo we slept in until 11 a.m. on the 24th. In the afternoon, being tired of our cramped quarters, we sallied forth and cut a track through the remainder of the bush to clear country. The mountain being enveloped in mist we returned to camp, wet through, but all the better for our outing. On Wednesday, the 25th, the morning being beautifully fine, we left camp about 6 a.m. for the summit. As we climbed towards the clear country, the birch trees, which in the lower land are about 80 feet in length, became so stunted that full grown birches were only 3or 4 feet. After ascending abuut a mile and a half we emerged from the bush, coming out on to poor tussocks anc) stunted mountain scrub, the only flowers out being pretty little white flowers, like violets, and the only game we saw were rabbits. The view was magnificent. Before us was Mount Ruapehu, with its rocky pointed southern peak standing out in bold relief above the southern and western snow fields; behind us lay the Waimarino forest, with the towns of Raetihi, Obakune, Horopito, and Rangataua showing up quite clearly. To the south-east were the Karioi and Waiouru plains, of yellow tussocks, the grass country, in contrast, looking quite green, stretching away towards the Ruahine mountains. Continuing our climb and rising above the vegetation we came on to loose scoria and rocks of all sizes which stretched away along to the east as far as we could see. On our west was the Mangaehuehu, away below, with here a frowning precipice and there an £hormous land slide, with now and then a waterfall. About 9 a.m. we got on to the nnow, where the mountain torrents running underneath are only visible where there is a sudden drop in the valley, the water gushing out and disappearing again. , Putting on our goggles (as without them the glare of the sun on the snow brings on snow blindness) we continued our climb in the snow, the mountain getting steeper as we proceeded upward. The snow had a frozen crust which let us down various depths. Four or five steps we would sink to our knees, the next two or three would be only to our ankles. We avoided several long chasms in'the snow fields,, which had ( a dangerous appaarsr.ce. After about half an hour's climb (iri the snow) the sun pouring down upon our heads ' and burning our faces (a veil should be worn) and our feet wet and almost numb with the cold, we got on to a razor back of rocks, where we had lunch and a good rest. After lunch, continuing our climb, we J passed to the west of the southern peak ai d made for the summit, 9,275 feet above sea level, but when within 80 or 100 feet of the coveted spot, just at 12 (noon) a mist, which had for some hours been playing about the tops, now became so thick that we could not see where we were going, so after waiting a while for it to clear (not long on account of the intense cold and from ' past experience in fogs) we decided to lose. no time in retracing our steps. The fog came on so rapidly that our only guide down to the lower snow lines was the footprints we made coming up. On arrival at the scoria we were below the fog, when we had another panoramic view of the grand Waimarino. Strolling leisurely down we arrived at camp about 4 p.m well pleased with our day'b outing and experience, and with a good appetite for our toasted steak, oiscuits and boiled rice. On the 26th we struck camp and returned to Rangataua none the worse for our trip, excepting that our faces were burnt red. We are of opinion that if the Government made a horse track through the bush from Rangataua along the eastern bank of the Mangaehuehu stream it will be the most popular route for tourists (the line being almost direct) to the finest mountain scenery in the North Island, the road being partly in clearings and partly in bush and by the river side, the bush being most pleasant to travel in on a hot day, .whereat* the other routes are out in the open all the way. We propose organising a series of expeditions for tourists during January and February next finding food and and tent accommodation, in pioneer style, at the upper edge of the bush, about 10 miles from Rangataua and four from the summit, and ourselves act as guides.