LANDSBOROUGH VALLEY

Press, Volume LXXIII, Issue 21990, 14 January 1937, Page 10

LANDSBOROUGH VALLEY

NEW HIGH-LEVEL ■ • PASS _ BAD WEATHER SPOILS CLIMBING PLANS A new route into the-upper Landsborough Valley was the main point to a most interesting round trip accomplished during the holidays by four members of the New Zealand Alpine Club—Messrs W.' S. Gilkison, B. N. Challis, E. O. Dawson, and A. W. Ibbotson. The party left at the head of Lake Ohau, whence heavy packs were carried to the head of the Hopkins'Valley. The Thompson river; an' important tributary of the Hopkins,; was visited, and the Foster glacier'explored, and a visit was also made to the Richardson glacier, in the-head of the Hopkins. The next .task was to select a route from the upper Hopkins into the Landsborough, and the pass chosen was at a point overlooking the Richardson glacier; • The divide was reached here at a height of 7500 feet—not an easy task with heavy packs, including ail gear and 10 days’ supplies—and in spite of bad conditions , overhead and very poor visibility, an easy route - was selected ; down show slopes to the west. The Landsborough river was reached at a point not far south of Mount Fettes, and followed to its source, whence several interesting expeditions were made. The party was interested to discover under Harper's Rock, alongside the Douglas glacier, a cache of stores left last year by Mr A. T. Scott, of Christchurch, whose parties have done some notable work in this rugged country. The return to civilisation was made from the Landsborough, over Mount Montgomery, into the Mueller, whence the Hermitage was reached. "The members of the party were enthusiastic about the scenic attractions of the Landsborough .country, and were sorry that bad weather had interfered with climbing plans. The magnificence of the mountain scenery, ; however, compensated largely for any such disappointments. " : '