TEN DAYS IN THE SNOW.

Press, Volume LVII, Issue 17104, 28 March 1921, Page 6

TEN DAYS IN THE SNOW.

TRYING EXPERIENCE OF MOUNT COOK PARTY.

On XTeduesday, March 16th,, a party consisting of MrS Andreae, Misses Burke, and Dr. Emden, and Mr Barnett. accompanied by two guides, left the Jit. C'ook Hermitage to go over .the Copland Pass. Nothing further was heard of the party till Sunday, March 20th. when one of the guides turned up at Scott's homestead at Karangai;ua, South Westland, for food supplies. The party was then at Welcome Flat hut, about two days' journey from the Hermitage. The guide expected to reach the hut with supplies late on Sunday night, and, had the weather conditions been satisfactory, it was considered that'the party would have left Welcome Flat hut on Monday morning, March 21st, on the return journey to the Hermitage. Had they done so they would have reached the bivouac at Sheltering Rock on Monday night, and would nave left there on' the Tuesday morning. Had the party dope this, however, they would havo been overtaken by a regular bliz.zard which swept over the Pass on Tuesday, and their position would have been 'almost hopeless. The only safe alternative for them would have been to stop at the Welcome Flat hut and wait for improved weather conditions. Muoh anxiety was felt for their safety when they were not heard from, it being considered that if they had made a pro; longed at Welcome Flat hut they would have got word throagh advising of their safety, there being a telephone office at Scott's homestead. They would also havo needed to send there for further food supplies. At 10.30 a.m. on Good Friday the postmaster at Timaru received word that no sign o.f the missing party had reached Scott's homestead up to that hour.

Early 'that morning a search party left the Hermitage in charge of Guide Graham, and' the secretary to the G.P.O. arranged that all the transmitting office? between the Hermitage and Knrangarua, on th© South Westland side of the Pass, should be kept continuously open to receive possible newß of the missing party. i '' At 7.25 p.m. or) Good Friday urgent advice was received from the Hermitage that the missing party had been met that .afternoon by the search party and Guide Graham, on tho Copland Pa6S. The party were much exhausted, hut were otherwise well, and reached the Hermitagfi later that night.