U.S. Mountain Club visitors

Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 1, Issue 36, 28 February 1984, Page 5

U.S. Mountain Club visitors

Twenty-five members of the Appalachian Mountain Club from America recently braved the elements to tramp through the cloudshrouded terrain of Tongariro National Park.

In what must have been the wettest summer weekend on Mount Ruapehu in years these brave souls, ranging in age from 40-70, ventured forth from the cosy comfort of the Venturelodge in Ohakune to do what they love best: 'trekking'. Trekking (or tramping) is not only the main outdoor pursuit of the 25 members who visited New Zealand a fortnight ago but also of the 25,000 other members of the Appalachian Mountain Club. Named after the Appalachian Mountains on the eastern seaboard of the northern US continent this club was formed more than 100 years ago. It was founded in Boston in 1876 and is the oldest in America with members from all the north-eastern States ' from Maine to Georgia. The leader of this New Zealand group, Mr Fred Sawyer and his wife, have been here before but for other members it was their first experience of New Zealand taller mountains — the highest peak in the Appalachian Range is Mt Washington, 6200ft ( 1 890m) though there are 46 peaks over 4000ft (1220m). They spent two wet days tramping through T ongariro National Park before heading for the hot pools of Rotorua and then south to the Milford Track.