MT. EOLLESTON.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 18968, 5 April 1927, Page 9

MT. EOLLESTON.

ASCENT BY CHRISTCHURCH LADY. A NOTEWORTHY FEAT. (special to thje press.) GBEYMOUTH, April 4. Accompanied by Constable V. Calwell and Mr \V. Eraser, of Otira, as guides, Miss Betty Petre, of Durham street, Christ-church, reached the summit of Mount Kolleston on Sunday, Miss Petre being the first lady successfully to accomplish the font. An interesting account of the climb was told to a representative of TnK Pkess to-day by Constable Calwetl. "Both Mr Eraser and myself," he said, "had some misgivings when Miss Petre proposed trying the feat, as we both know that scaling Mount Eolleston is a most difficult task for any experienced mountaineer to attempt. Knowing that she had been an invalid for some months, wo pointed out the hardships and difficulties of the climb. Miss Petre, however, still persevered in her determination to undertako tho journey, so, the weather conditions being favourable, wo decided to make the ascent yesterday." ' Leaving Arthur's Pass at i a.m., the party started on their difficult journey via the Bealey Valley. A short stop was made at Jack's Hut for breakfast. The party later waded waist deep through snow for nearly two hours towards the summit. Before reaching the top, steps had to be ciit in tho frozen snow, while slow progress was made with the aid of a rope attached to each member of the party. The summit of Mt. Kolleston was reached at 1.30 p.m., the ascent occupying 91 hours. The Descent. Tiie descent was made via tho Otira Valley, glissading being possible for about 2000 ft, although the soft snow made any fast work impossible. Owing to the depth of snow progress was slow, more especially when getting off the slopes, where walking was very dimcult. When descending the Otira Valley the cry of a deer warning the other, members of the herd arrested the attention of the party, who, upon turning in the direction of the sound, saw five deer standing inquisitively watching them from the peak of a snowcapped range. The party reached the Otira Gorge road near Peg-Leg Creek at 7.10 p.m., Miss Petre and Mr Fraser arriving at Arthur's Pass at 8 p.m., and Constable Calwell reaching his home at Otira an hour later. While at the summit of Mt. Eolleston Miss Petre added her name to the record list, which was placed there nearly ten years ago. Both guides paid tribute to the marvellous stamina and pluck shown by Miss Petre, who endured the intense cold and hard travelling without a murmur of complaint, and returned to Arthur's Pass tired but showing no ill-effects from her experience. Mr Eraser of Otira, has successfully climbedE: Eolleston five times, yesterday ?dng Constable Calwell's second climb to the summit.