TRAMPING.

Press, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20563, 3 June 1932, Page 5

TRAMPING.

POPULAR OPEN-AIR, ACTIVITY. THE YOUTH HOSTELS MOVEMENT. The increased popularity of "hiking"—organised tramping by parties of both sexes —has been a notable development of the post-war period in. Europe. Beginning in Germany in tho first few years after the war, when parties of the " Wandervogcl" were to bo met on every road and pathway, the movement spread to other countries. Latterly the tramper has be-< become so familiar a figure on tho English roads that "Punch," which ls a true mirror of English contemporary life, has "foften featured humorous drawings commenting on the ways these enthusiasts for the open air. The English railway companies have joined in meeting their needs, and have organised "mystery specials" —trains running to an unstated destination, but always to some district wliove much can be found to interest the tramper. At the same time there has grown up an organisation of hostels specially designed for their needs. But tho movoment in Britain is not confined to the South—it is equally as strong in Scotland. Working from the

Edinburgh centre there is a chain of Y.M.C.A. lodges, which were organised four years ago, other hostels provided by various clubs, a Border chain of II hostels, a cluster round Loch Lomond and a central chain through Perthshire, reaching to others in Aberdeenshire. A hut at Ballater links up the Cairngorms and the Balmoral district, while another at Inverernan welcomes the rambler to the romantic valley of the Don. Recently, the Glasgow District Council of tho Scottish Ramblers' Federation have been going ahead with the various schemes for opening up the West Highlands to ramblers from all countries. The catering list contains addresses of hotels and boardinghouses where ramblers may have facilities at low cost. A movement so expressive of the times lias not failed to bo felt in New Zealand. Though tramping clubs have been in existence for many years—they were naturally called for by' the grandeur of the scenery, by the ready access to mountainous and other country unspoiled by settlement, and by the natural aptitude of the New' Zealander for "roughing it"—it has been only recently that the present great popularity of "hiking" has' grown up, so that it is no longer the pleasure of the few, but of all who can get away from the towns on a fine day. The latest move in Canterbury, where opportunities for organised tramping, especially on the Peninsula, aro as great as anywhere, has been the formation ot an association of tramping clubs and of a Youth Hostels Association. The Youth Hostel Association. The recently-formed Youth - Hostel Association of New Zealand has already opened up a very fine tramping ground on Banks Peninsula. It has arranged accommodation at very low rates at the various bays on the Peninsula, which up to now havo been closed to trampers unless they were willing to burden themselves with heavy impedimenta for sleeping out. This accommodation —tho rates charged for' which are very low—is available only to those trampers who present their Hostel Association cards on arrival, and whose visit has been notified in advance by the hostel secretary. Already eight hostels, where plain, simple, and clean accommodation may be obtained at the low rate of Is a bed and Is, a meal, are available on the /PeninsiUfl. In order to make these low rates possible each tramper has to carry in his rucksack a simple sort of linen sleeping bag and a towel:

1 blankets are provided. The hostels available are: Port Levy, Pigeon Bay, Little Akaloa, Okain's, Le Bon's, Duvauchelle, Akaroa, and Hill Top. The first step to bo taken by tlioss who wish to use these hostels is to form a tramping club or group which niust be affiliated with the Youth Hostel Association, the subscription for a club being 10s 6d. This application has to bo made to Mr Hammitt, 25 Clive street, Linwood. Many tramping clubs have recently been formed in order to make use of the accomI modation, and the following clubs have affiliated: —Sunlight League of j New Zealand, Canterbury Mountaineering and Tramping Club, Kiwi Joggers, the St. Margaret's College Old Girls, Christ's College, Peninsula, Rangiora, Technical College, Boys' High School, and Y.M.C.A. Tramping Clubs, tlio Winter Sports Club, and , the Christehurch Ski Club. Before beginning a walking tour a membership card (costing one shilling) has to be obtained from the secretary. The rules, printed on the card, emphasise the importance of closing all gates, and of thoroughly extinguishing tires. It is hoped By the Association that the hostel system will spread beyond the Peninsula. Two tramping clubs have been started in South Canterbury, and it is hoped that distant clubs will affiliate with the Hostel Association, and possibly arrange hostel accommodation in their part of the country. A further hope is that by

tho spread of the movement, interchange of visits will he possible not only between Banks Peninsula and other parts cf the South Island, but that the North Island will join in as well. The inauguration of the Hostel Association is largely due to the efforts of the Sunlight League, which has been working steadily to this end for over a year. It is represented on the Association by Sir Arthur Dobson, who ha.s been elected president of that body. Although the New Zealand Railways have not been able to organise so full a schedule of special trips as the English railway companies—chiefly because of the smaller numbers of people interested in tramping in this country, and also because the New Zealand countryside is covered by a less extensive network of railway lines—a great deal

I has already been done. By taking excursionists to Peel Forc.~,t and to otber I places of interest by train and omnibus, the Railway Department has remindecl town-dwellers that there are places in Canterbury which can readily be made the scene of a pleasant and unusual day's walk. In addition, Canterbury has a background of mountains which surpasses anything to be found in the British Isles, and the hills of the Peninsula, so near to Christehurch that they are in danger of being forgotten, provide a constantly changing range of hill, harbour, and plains scenery. Railway Excursions. The Railway Department's organisation of special trips to Motukarara to enable trampcrs to walk on the Peninsula has already been largely talcen advantage of, and to-day further facilities aro being provided. Leaving Christchurch. at 8 a.m. an excursiou train will go to Little River instead of only Motukarara as on the earlier Sunday trips. The standard walk is from Motukarara to Diamond Harbour, by way of the Sign of the Pack-horse at the Kaituna Saddle, and over Mt. Herbert to Diamond Harbour. The climb from the Kaituna Saddle to the top of Mt. Herbert is the most arduous part of the trip, but it is well worth while, for the : view from the top on a clear day is one of the finest in Canterbury. Those who feel that the climb would be too much for them, however, can quite readily avoid it by going from the saddle down to Charterls Bay, after which the walk is easy. As tho excursion train is going on to Little River, trampers will havo an opportunity of trying out new routes. Prom Kaituna they may go up the Kaituna valley to the saddle, after which

the usual route is followed, or they may cross from Little River to Diamond Harbour by way of Purau or Mt. Herbert. To-day the walk may be done from the Diamond Harbour side over tho hills to Little River and the other stations, for a return train has been provided leaving Little River just after six o'clock. An oportunity to get among the mountains of the Southern Alps is provided by the excursion to Otira. The walk from Arthur's Pass over the Gorge road, through some of the finest scenery within easy distance of Christchurch, is neither very long nor difficult. Later in the year, when sufficient snow begins to fall, tho Sunday excursion trains to the Pass will begin, and then snow sports will take the place_of tramping, but under present conditions the tramper could hardly find a better placo for a day's outing.