AT THE GLACIER.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 19928, 15 May 1930, Page 10

AT THE GLACIER.

A ftAIN-SOAKED PARTY. TOURISTS VISIT FRANZ JOSBf. (BFECIAL tO TH« PSBSS.) WAIHO GORGE, May 14. The heaviest ram here for many months, falling throughout the night almost with the force of hail, had by this morning transformed mountainsides into streaming slopes of water and the sluggteh Waiho river. into a hurling torrent in which Atones and slabs of ice wet* carried, far towards! the sea. Leaving the Glacier Hotel for Hokitika, at 9 a.m., the driver of a small car was forced to turn back, although by the afternoon, when th# rain subsided, big service cars had an easy passage, .The party of ChriatchUrch tourists, determined ic- set foot on the glacier, braved the soaking rain in the. attempt, but were rewarded with remarkably fine views of the gorge, glacier, and innumerable waterfalls and minor torrehts on'ffche four mile approach. "'•■*"" After threatening all day, heavy rain set in before six o'clock last even* ing, and continued unabated through the night. Although unfortunate lOf the tourists, it was welcomed at the hotel for its revival of, the failing supply of electricity. When this morning a clearance seemed impossible, over twenty members of the party, men, women, and children, packing themselves up with oilskins, set out on the track to the glacier, accompanied by Guide Peter Graham and three other*. Not only had the rain swelled the river incredibly, but the track >vas tOihetimes immersed for 800 or 4UO yards to a depth of four, five, and Six indies of water. Soaked frOffi the thighs down, but tremendously impressed with the unusual views of the bush under water,-they reached the" hut nt the foot of the glacier before, noon Some who ventured on immediately, to the glacier moraine saw the collapse Of two huge masses Of ice With a reverberation of thunder The glacier Itself, extending into misty infinity among the clouds, was* magnificent sight. From ltd base eaifie rushing a boiling stream of water, carrying with it great pieces of ice, while from every part of the mountain, and from the slop** of the glacier, smaller rivers joined its rapid flow .down the'gorge. Shingle that yesterday had been dry was covered to a depth of eight ieet. Itairi was si ill falling heavily. .Thu diversion of the streams under the glacier'enabled-the. party to wade across ai-d climb the shingle-covered moraine to the great blue masses of glacier ice. The rain had made the surfa-Te dangerous, and steps had to be <'«t on the simplest ftp* proaches. There was & superb view of the gorge from the glacier peaks. After scaling the glacier for about half a mile, past many erevasses and email lakes,' the party returned to the h>it. The trip home Was made by & longer track along the Calary rivor, which had to be crossed twice fey narrow suspension bridges. The sight of pigeons in the dripping bush, and the continuous view of the river torrent made this the Hwre Varied ttlid interesting walk. Although two Women ludicrously carried umbrella* up the glacier, most of them soon forgot their soaking skins, and enjoyed the outing. Light rain is still falling, but there is some prospect of the weather clearing for the- trip to the Fox glacier tomorrow.