A FIRST ASCENT

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 56, Issue 155, 14 April 1936, Page 6

A FIRST ASCENT

MOUNT ONSLOW CLIMBED. ASHBURTON PARTY’S SUCCESS. MAGNIFICENT VIEW OBTAINED The first ascent and traverse of Mt. Onslow, and an ascent of Mt. Arrowsmith, a peak infrequently climbed, "’ere made by two members of the Erewhon Mountaineering Club, Messrs C. .Denham and J. C. Rattle, during Easter. Leaving Ashburton late on Thursday night, the climbers motored to Erewhon to spend Easter climbing in country around the Lawrence River, one of the main tributaries of the Rangitata. Mcßae’s Hut, four miles upstream, and at a junction of the Clyde and Lawrence, was reached at 12.30 a.m. on Friday. After a few hours’ rest a start was made up the Lawrence to a point nine miles in, where a camp was established for the purpose of climbing Mt. Arrowsmith (9171 feet), the highest peak on this range. The party left camp at 3.30 a.m. on Saturday and after six hours’ varied rock and shingle work gained the main Ashburton Ridge to Arrowsmith. There was a splendid view down at the Ashburton Glacier, but Dividewards the weather looked threatening.

Climbing the Ashburton Ridge to Arrowsmith involved some interesting and tricky rock work. At 8000 feet the rock became badly plastered with ice, and a frozen mist had set in, obscuring all view of the surrounding peaks and glaciers. The summit was reached at 12.10 p.m., and after a bite to eat a record was left and a hurried descent was made to the lower Ashburton Ridge. Camp was reached at 6.45 p.m. after a hard but successful day. The climbers broke camp on Sunday and moved downstream to the Clyde junction and then up the Clyde to the Broadleaf Hut, on the Cloudy Peak side of the river.

Rising at 1 a.m., after breakfast, the climbers left camp at 2.30 a.m. and climbed tussock and shingle ridges to gain the main rock ridge to Mt. Onslow (5761 feet), yet a virgin peak on the Cloudy Range. At 5 a.m. they lay down for a sleep till the sun rose, about 6 a.m., and then went on and upwards toward the rocky summit of Onslow. Within 1500 feet of the summit the rope was put to good work, and the climbing necessitated very careful handling over small rock towers and pinnacles. After a few more feet of the broken ridge they ascended a steep rock face to gain the summit at 10.15 a.m. The view was all that could be desired. From the Two Thumbs to Mts. Cook and Tasnum, then the lofty Rangitata peak, Mt. D’Archaic, a view was obtained across Gunn’s Pass to Westland and the Tasman Sea, completing the circle with Arrowsmith and the Rakaia peaks. The descent was begun at ii a.m., down a steep rock and snow couloir to a large basin, then downward over rock spurs to the lower tussock slopes. Jhe hut was reached at 2 p.m., and ie climbers, returned to Erewhon last night and later to Ashburton.

AN INTERESTING TRAMP. IN ARTHUR’S PASS REGION. Starting out from Arthur’s Pass at 9 o’clock'-on Saturday night, Messrs 11. Knox and S. Conway made an inteiesting journey in the region adjacent. The party travelled up the Waimakariri River to the Carrington Hut, airiving at 2 a.m. on Sunday. There they rested and partook of a meal before going on up the White River to Kumar nock Stream. They went along the ridge above and traversed Mount Davie a rough, rocky peak, 7500 feet high. Descending, they crossed a deep coulon and reached the upper portions of the Cronin River. The Hampers crossed Whitehorn 1 ass into the Mary’s Creek area and then went across to Harman Pass, down the Taipoiti River and hack to the Carrington Hut, which was reached at 6 p.m. on Sunday. The trip was strenuous throughout and the going was very heavy at times, but the two men made excellent time. Mr Conway parted from Mr Knox at Carrington Hut, going on to a train, and Mr Knox remained at the Hut for some time before going on to Arthur’s Pass yesterday. Ho returned to Ashburton by train last evening.