FROM PEAK TO PEAK.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10199, 29 March 1911, Page 5

FROM PEAK TO PEAK.

ON THE TARARUAS

MT. HOLDSWORTH--MITRE

PEAK. ■'■'■'.;■■ •'.,,;;. "Messrs Moore, Hunter,, and Burrows, ,of "the Masterton P- and T. staff, made a successful, attempt at reaching tne Mitre via Mouut Holdsworth. •".■

- Leaving M&sttriori at- p.m. on Saturday, tho; mountain house was reached before*dark.. 'She party y made a start-at ;suMise y morning,, arriving" Trig Sta- \ . tioir at 7 a.nfcj brit Heavy- clouds prevailing, a' delay of: half ai hour; occurred :- \ was p s#ssij? If, '. l ;and ■ ai;- , V ;J'■ ■ and delay. At one time tie adveik-- ;';!;-.' turers were held up on the; face of a cliff for a cousiderable\period, being' '.'■■■. unable to move in an? direction. The connecting ridges in "some, parts are ;.''.-:•'./ of the .."razor-back" variety, and '...;, would, in windy weaker* be practi- ... cally impassable .even with the additional security afforded by roping together. The speaks; known as .''The . Pinnacles" are; perhaps the most difficult portion Wtrav-erse.owing to .the sheer drop on either side. The. narrow edges, affording but scant foothold, require' • • careful negotiation.. ' \ y .■■'"■,'■'

AH along the range lagoons were plentiful, providing an airiple supply of drinking' rcater/-' and ' from the snow-line upwards the; rnonatcin sides were well clothed with native tussocks and Alpine plants, the spear-grass .making its presence ■-..-.' painfully manifest. • •: , ; Luncheon was; partaken of ou Mount Crawford, where Sash signals . : were received from MaSterton, but clouds prevented a reply. The stiff est clinib; wa,s experienced from Mount Crawford to the Mitre, the.peaks being extremely rocky and' - precipitous. The iirial ascent of the side of the Mitre ended the climb for the day at 2.30 p.m., thus making the time from peak to peak, including stoppages through clouds, seven hours.

A start for home was made at 3 p.m., the steep descent; - down ■» trackless ridge, -through the ■ virgin bush being, accomplished"■-'; in , two , hoursl Darkness the, party when half way ■ tfirough- the Wiii- ; ngawa Gorge, the -iiegotiatioh 1 of .the;' latter part in the Cimmerian black- ; hess proving- a perfect :|hightmar;e/ After this, another"Vheerful. tramp of sis miles; Brought the party toi Kaituna Factory, >'here cycles liad (been left on Saturday, town ' being ••',' reached at 10 p.m. v <