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level and the going good. This brings us to Grave Pass, on another spur, the crest of which has to be traversed for 4or 5 chains until the pass is reached. From this a fine view of the Esperance Valley is obtained, towards which the route now leads, by a narrow snow-grass shelf leading to the right, and then doubling to the left and downwards. After this a series of shelves are negotiated leading up towards the crown of the ridge again and to the left, within a few hundred feet of it. I think that the shelf to the left, close up under the cliff, is the better here; we took the lower one, which leads along the brow of a, 2,000 ft. precipice, and is in places rather close and bare to be pleasant climbing. After pursuing a downward grade on wider shelves, a glitter is reached, down which a straight course may be maintained with safe climbing. Ropes are not needed now, and a faster pace can be indulged in, the route being in the direction of the waterway, with one sharp double to the left, to get down off a rounded spur. Near the bottom a cliff has to be avoided by a slight detour to the right. From here on we found our way down in the dark to small bush to the right of the week, and below the falls, 2,330 ft., our camping-ground, which was not reached till 10 p.m. By the time the billy was boiled we did not feel like pitching camp, so just turned into our sleeping-bags. I may mention that the snowfields referred to slope down to the edge of what appears to be a perpendicular cliff of great height, overhanging and running parallel to the Cleddau Valley. It is possible that a practicable route may be found below some of these snowfields, close to the brow of the cliff, where two high bluffs appear to bar the way, but might be negotiated. However, I think that even if so it would not be so safe or enjoyable a route, as avalanche snow might be encountered, and I believe that the snow walking is really the safer, when once one gets used to the first feeling of insecuritj-. The route we traversed is evidently over safe snow —that is, free from avalanches—as it is near a rock wall on upper side. The cost of formation would also be nil, and the snow walking and opportunities for glissading would, I have no doubt, be appreciated by a large number of tourists. Leaving camp fairly late on the morning of the 2nd January, 1913, our way lay for half a mile or less down the bed of the Esperance River until the fall became too great and the boulders too large to negotiate, when we took once more to the bush. Here we made our w.ay towards the rocky wall to our right, where we struck a watercourse, which led us in the right direction as it joined the Esperance River just as it debouches from its narrow gorge. Soon the Esperance joins the Gulliver River (970 ft.), whence a good view of the Gertrude and Adelaide saddles may be obtained. They certainly look no more promising from below than from on top —though an adjacent saddle to the north of the Adelaide, and also leading into Moraine Creek, appears as though it might be climbable. From here on the walking is good and the fall ever getting less. We made a mistake in bearing to the right, which immediately took us beside the Donne River, here running in a deep gorge, and at a much lower level. We struck the Cleddau River about a quarter of a mile below its junction with the Gulliver River. From here to Milford the going was much the easiest walking on the route, cattle-tracks and open bush being everywhere found, excepting about 10 chains of bluff round the Cleddau River. I must mention the view of Mount Tutoko which we obtained from the shingle-beach, about a quarter of a mile above the junction of the Tutoko and Cleddau Rivers, which is probably unsurpassed as a view of a single mountain anywhere in New Zealand. The Tutoko carries more water than the Cleddau River, is about 2 chains wide, and, being over 3 ft. deep and very swift, we found it bad enough to ford. We thought that the better route for a track would be along the southern side of the Cleddau River all the way, which could be more easily forded near Sutherlands. From the Tutoko River to Sutherlands, Milford, is about two miles of easj' walking, and we reached our destination, in good time. On this latter track there is a small portion of 4 chains or so that should lie reconstructed, as in its present state it is an awkward scramble On what is otherwise an easy and pleasant walk. Two men could vastly improve it in a week's work. With regard to the practicability or otherwise of this as a .tourist route, I might as well at once confess myself an absolute new chum at this sort of climbing, so the fact of my having come over it with a 501b. to 301b. swag without slip or misadventure of any kind makes it apparent that the average man, if in good company, could do the same thing. If a track up the vallej-s similar to that from Lake Howden to Glade House were made, and the worst places over the pass improved by narrow side cuttings, steps, or footholds, as required by local conditions, with iron bars or pipes let in, with wire rope attached at the most dangerous places, huts built at the head of the Hollyford Valleys, I should say that with competent guides (who would be necessary) about half the people who now go over McKinnon Pass could with safety and pleasure, accomplish the return journey by this route. From the hut on Hollyford an interesting side journey to the Gertrude Saddle could be made; and, for the more ambitious, the trip to the summit of Mount Macpherson, while going over the pass, would be amply rewarded. Mount Lippe has not yet been climbed, but would be easy of access, while I believe a route from Homer to Gertrude Saddle over the mountain would be practicable, and possibly from Gertrude to Adelaide Saddle. My remarks on the snow slopes en route are based on Guide Lippe's experience and advice. The distance from Lake Howden to camp at forks of the Hollyford River is about twelve miles, thence to camp near head of the Esperance River about six miles or a little less ; of this about 15 chains up Talbot Saddle, and, say, 40 chains from Grave Pass down towards the Esperance River, would be dangerous. Thence to Milford, about eight miles, or a total of about twenty-six miles, or much the same distance as from Lake Howden to Glade House. My distances are only estimates from point to point, as any measurements under the conditions were out of the question. Messrs. Grave and Talbot deserve every credit for their persistence in finding this route over the mountain, as several attempts were unsuccessful. Their route up Talbot Ladder and along snowfields was first suggested after examination of photographs taken from the other side of the Cleddau Valley. I saw some .places that they had climbed down that lam sure I could not be induced to tackle. The most wonderful 'part of the route, I think, is from Grave Pass down, which, viewed from below, seems impracticable. My thanks are due to them, and to Guide Lippe, for their comradeship throughout, and for their ready assistance in the most dangerous places.
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