CROSSING THE RANGES.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10191, 18 March 1911, Page 5

CROSSING THE RANGES.

STROM LEVIN TO MASTERTON.

AN INTERESTING TRIP,

Messrs E. S. Lancaster and It. L. Adkin, of Levin, together with Mr H. T. Thompson, of Wellington, arrived in Masterton yesterday morning,, after making a successful crossing of the Tararua ranges. The party left Levin on the 9th inst., and ascended the Ohau river to the junction of the two main head streams, thence crossing the Tararua divide (which at that point is somewhat lower than further south) into the Mangahao v'alley. The. altitude at the summit of the divide was 2670 feet, according to the aneroid which the party had in its possession. Reaching the foot of Mount, Dundas, the party camped on a twoacre clearing which had been formed by a huge land-slide. On the follo-v----ing day they ascended Mount "Dundas, which is 4944 ft. above sea level, and is the highest- peaic observable from Levin. They camped.; on the summit of the hill, :i:rl, in the evening,-signalled with cohmiea ; lights to their friends in Leyi.i, and immediately got a response. 'J he view obtainable from Mount Du::clas is considered one of the, fine ft along the Tararua,ranges, on account-of • such peaks." as- ; the Mitre, Mcnnt | Holdsworth,.; -Mount Hector,,: and-! .Kapakapaiim being 'observable vn < the dist.i:tce. /The party ffoc«c led: two mile-' south, until they icached the juncti .r. of the main divide with the Duni.'is range. On reacnijg tins spot, which is at the head of the , Ruamahan-.'a river, an view was obtained of both ««t coasts,, with the intervening .plains and townships. Descending about 1000 feet into the ultimate source of the Waiohine river, they camped for a day or two, and explored thev stream.for a distance of several miles. The peaks' surrounding this valley are of au impressive and picturesque character. Continuing south, the party reached the connecting range between Mitre and Holdsworth, and hero came across, it "tarn," or mountain pond, a chain across. They subsequently camped on the Mitre range, within a mile of the summit of the peak. It had been intended to ascend the peak,, but this was prevented by u howling.gale and dense fog. The party made their way along the Mitre range, enveloped in an almost impenetrable fog, and guided only by a westerly wind . and compass, crossing knife-edge pinnacles and dangerous ravines, until, baflled by the sudden, diversion of the range, they were compelled to seek shelter and Test in a halt; The camp at this spot was 4600 ft. above the sea level. On the following , morning the fog lifted, and a magnificent panoramic view of the surrounding plains and rivulets, with the briny ocean and l lakes in the distance, presented itself. An opportunity was also afforded.the party of defining their position.' Thence they proceeded to , Mount Holdsworth, taking numerous. • and : admiring the \ mountain • flora en route,., ascending eventually through what they describe as the. most magnificent mountain beech forest in the Dominion to the hut at the foot of - the Mount. Here they camped for a night, and made final descent into the open on Friday morning, after spending days in the recesses of the ranges.

The party, which has previously made a' similar journey, discovered --traces of wild cattle and saw. mountain duck, paroquets, kaka, and wild pigeon in abundance. They failed, however, to discover any trace of the huia.