MT. COOK

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 68, Issue 141, 27 March 1948, Page 4

MT. COOK

Visible from Rakaia WINCHMORE OBSERVATIONS “Atmospheric conditions and plantations permitting, Mount Cook may be seen from the Main South Road from a point one and a half miles south of Rakaia as far south as the Dromore corner — the best view is obtained from there,” said Mr C. Hilgendorf, of Sherwood, Winchmore, who has made investigations into the claims that Mount Cook could be seen from the Canterbury Plains.

• “Until quite recently I was one of those who thought it was unlikely that Mount Cook could be seen from the plains, but I have checked my observations and theodolite bearings, and the points I mention can he taken as accurate,” he added.

“The whole length of the ridge from the low to the high peak is seen between the higher part of Jhe Ben McLeod range and the Moorhouse range. The line of sight passes over the comparatively low and flat step at the end of the Ben McLeod range, over the Sinclair range a little north of Sinclair’s Saddle, over one of the lower parts of the Two Thumb range, almost past the end of the spur between the Macaulay and Godley rivers over the Rutherford Pass’on the Liebig range, and over the lowest part of the Malte Brun range 'south of Mount Johnson,” said Mr Hilgendorf.

“On this line the mountain may be seen from as far inland as Winchmore and probably Greenstreet. Continued in the other direction the line hits the sea at the mouth of the Rakaia, from where an excellent view of a considerable portion of the mountain may be obtained,” he added. Further north on the main road towards Rakaia the line was over the lower parts of the Moorhouse range, which obscured all but the top few hundred feet of the ridge. A good View, however, could be had from two miles south of Rakaia. The high peak could be seen from as far inland as Sherwood, and in the other direction, all the upper front of the mountain could be seen from Southbridge.

“For those who are not familiar with this aspect of Mount Cook, I might add that it is roughly that of a ridge pole tent from the side. The ridge slopes gradually up to the northern or righthand end, where there is a small though definite peak,” he concluded.