ARTHUR'S PASS EXCURSION.

Press, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20619, 8 August 1932, Page 7

ARTHUR'S PASS EXCURSION.

620 MAKE THE TRIP. VARIED WINTER SPORTS. It took two trains to carry, the 620 people who made the excursion to Arthur's Pass yesterday. In the first train 330 left Christchureh at 8 a.m., and. the second train, leaving fifteen minutes later, carried 290. This crowd was easily a record for- the present season, and its number testified to the increasing popularity of the Arthur's Pass Park as a week-end resortConditions at the Pass were ideal in every respect, and the hundreds of skiers, tobogganers, and trampers enjoyed a perfect day's sport under a cloudless sky, in the most exhilarating atmosphere. Contrary to expectations, there was no snow on the ground until after Springfield was passed, this robbing the journey of some of its usual interest. But further on, the high hills, and the mountains at the Pass, were white to the vegetation line. The excursionists were not sorry that the roads at the Pass were elear of snow, for there was an easy walk to a good toboggan run at Jack's hut, and to the ski-ing grounds. More than the ordinary number of trampers patronised the excursion, and immediately the train pulled in at the Pass, made for the snow, parties climbing on the Avalanche Temple and B 'limit peaks. But the ice was frozen hard, and only experienced and wellequipped mountaineers climbed to any height. Two men who climbed Temple Peak (7000 ft) had to cut steps from the snow-line to the summit. Another popular attraction was the Christehurch Ski Club 'a championship meeting on the Tejnple Peak basin, field, and excursionists who were energetic enough to r climb-to "the sM-ing-grounds saw plentjr«C ihrißiog-gM-gnnning-'"Qf

course, many of theni -were able to ski themselves during and after the racing. On the side of the ski-ing ground was a splendid toboggan run, to .which at least 200 tobogganers flocked. The whole basin thus presented an animated and colourful scene. The frozen mass of ice pinnacles, which in summer becomes the beautiful Bridal Veil falls, was the objective of other walkers who sought a newer attraction. Further afield, others discovered a frozen lake upon which they were able to skate. Although there was this great variety of amusement, and such a great number indulging in it) no accident ax untoward, incident ttobimported.,.She two trains ■—carrying a tjrQwd augmented by scores' of .%eek-enders from thePas3—returned to Cimstcnurch - within..* few itnadtjss of ft»%fc; 0fh,«58- '•