5

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camping equipment each time a climb was attempted. During the winter a mile of new track was constructed, besides a considerable amount of improvement work done round the hostel building. All the tracks in the vicinity of the Hermitage were put in repair and kept in good order throughout the season. Chief Guide Graham reports that the chamois and thar liberated on the reserve were seen several times during the summer. In the spring a herd of twenty chamois were seen at the Blue Lake, on the way to the Ball hut, by one of the guides, and small herds of three and four were seen later in other localities. The weather on the whole has been good during the season. A number of high ascents were made, including three ascents of Mount Cook and several interesting new climbs and first ascents. During the holiday rush of visitors it was very often difficult to allot guides for all who required them, which resulted in parties making occasional guideless expeditions. Two venturesome ladies crossed over into the Copland Valley and back, making a double crossing of the Copland Pass, which, constitutes the first crossing by ladies without a guide. I have recorded on the appended tabulated list all the high ascents made during the season, but besides the climbs mentioned, one ascent was made of the Hochstetter Dome, sixteen ascents of Glacier Dome, one ascent and four traverses of Mount Annette, two ascents of Mount Kitchener, six ascents of Mount Wakefield, three ascents of Barron Saddle, one ascent and one crossing of Graham's Saddle, ten ascents and thirteen crossings of the Copland Pass.

List of High Ascents at Hermitage during the Season of 1917-18.

llatc. Name of Peak. Height, In Feet. Climbed by Name ol Guide. ttouto and Item arks. 1917. Nov. 10 Mount Elic de Beaumont Footstool 10,200 9,073 Mr. R. B. Seagar, Mrs. P. P. Graham Graham Miss A. Humphreys, Mr. ' „ R. B. Seager Mr. Macfarlanc, Mr. Evans 1 R. Young Ascent and descent by S. face through broken icefall. Ascent and descent from Sefton bivouac. Ascent and descent by W. fall from Mueller Hut. Ascent and descent by W. arete from Malte Brun Hut. Ascent and descent by S. face from Malte Brun Hut. Ascent by W. arUe from shepherd's hut at foot of Chop Creek. Ascent and descent by S. arete from Hooker Hut and Copland Pass. Ascent and descent from Hooker Hut by S. face from Hooker Glacier. Ascent and descent from King Memorial Hut through broken ice by S. face. Ascent and descent by W. face from Mueller Hut. 10,200 1'. Graham » 24 9,073 Dec. 4 Mount Sealy 8,631 8,631 i 1 R. Young 4 Mount Malte Brun .. 10,421 10,421 Miss A. Humphreys, Mr. P. Graham R. B. Seager Mr. R. B. Seager, Miss A. ; P. Graham, Humphreys J. Stout Mrs. J. Thomson .. J. Lippe .. P. Graham 6 „ 18 M inaret Peaks and Mount De La Beelie Mount Plummor 10,058 10,000 7,814 10,058 10,000 7,814 P, Graham, J. Stout J. Lippe .. „ 19 Lean Peak 8,000 8,000 Miss A. Humphreys, Mrs. P. Graham P. Graham, Mr. R. B. Seager Ditto P. Graham „ 20 Mount Sturdec 9,000 9,000 „ 27 Mount Londorfcldt .. 10,551 10,551 Mrs. J. Thomson, Mr. P. Graham, R. B. Seager J. Lippe P. Graham, J. Lippe „ 30 Mount 8ealy 8,631 1 8,631 Kevin Scannel, Cyril P. Graham Scannel, Mr. 1). Scannel, Mr. Campbell, Pompy Campbell Mrs. J. Thomson .. J. Lippo .. P, Graham 1918. Jan. 4 Footstool 9,073 9,073 J. Lippo .. Ascent and descent from Sefton bivouac. Ascent and descent by W. arMe from Malte Brun Hut. ., 5 Mount Malte Brun .. 10,421 10,421 Mr. H. A. Holl, Miss M. Guide less Lorimer, Mr. D. Scan- party led nel by Mr. Holl Mr. W. Graves, Mr. A. Guideless | Graves \ Ditto .. .. „ J Mr. E. P. Lee, Mi'. W. R. Young Graves, Mr. A. Graves Miss B. Holdsworth, Mr. P. Graham, H. A. Holl J. Lippo Mr. H. A. Holl, Miss M. j G u i d eless Lorimer, Miss C. Alin- I party led feldt by Mr. Holl Miss M. Lorimer, Miss C. Ditto Alinfeldt, Mr. H. A. Holl 0 u i d o less party led by Mr. Holl G uideless \ R. Young 5 Mount Sealy 8,631 8,631 Ascent by W. face from Mueller; ascent by N.E. face from Sladden Glacier. Ascent and descont by E. face from Mueller Hut. Ascent and descent by Green's route from King Memorial Hut. Ascent by N.W. arete from Mueller Glacier; descent by E. face to Sladden Glacier. Ascent by arete from Barron Saddle ; descent to Fyfc's Pass and Mueller Glacier and back to Mueller Hut. First party of ladies to visit and camp in Murchison Valley. 5 0 Mount Darby Mount Maunga Ma .. 8,284 8,335 8,284 8,335 ft 9 19 Mount Cook Mount Darby 12,349 8,284 12,349 8,284 P. Graham, J. Lippe G u i d eless party led by Mr. Holl Ditto 20 Mount Montgomery 7,661 7,661 i> 20 Murchison Valley .. Miss I, Chambers, Miss P. Graham B. Holdsworth, Miss D.' Theomin, Mrs. P. Graham Miss I. Chambers, Miss B. „ Holdsworth, Miss D. Theomin P. Graham Unnamed peak on Liebig Range, about 2 miles N.E. of Nun's Veil 7,850 7,850 Prom bivouac on Murchison River bed, ascent made by N. face; descent same way. First ascent. Miss Chambers desires this peak be named " Haveloek Peak." Ascent by N.W. arete from Mueller Glacier; descont by E. face to Sladden Glacier, back to Mueller Hut. Ascent and descent by Earl's route on W. face, from Hooker bivouac. 21 Mount Darby 8,284 Miss L. Biug, Miss B. R. Young Newman, Mr. Garriok R. Young tt 22 8,284 27 Mount Cook 12,349 12,349 Miss M. Lorimer, Mr. j P. Graham, H. A. Holl R. Young P. Graham, R. Young