THE "NUN'S VEIL."

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 65, 10 December 1907, Page 6

THE "NUN'S VEIL."

ANOTHER ALPINE FEAT. Mr. T. E. Donne, in charge of the Tourist Department, yesterday received the following interesting telegram': — "Dr. Mackay, of the Nirnrod, with Guide Callett and myself, made the first successful ascent of the Nun\s Veil, 9000. feet,. on' the 4th inst. Nun's Veil is the highest summit of the Liebig Range (Southern Alps). Most interesting climb and views. — P. Graham (Guide)," An interesting feature is that this ascent should havo been made by an officer of tho Antarctic ship Nimrod. The "Nun's Veil" is so called because of a small glacier which seems to hang like'a veil from near its summit. Now Zealand olimbors have often noticed ft in their descriptions of the Southern Alps, but as it was not in tho list of first-class peaksits height is 8975 feet—no serious attempt liar, been made to climb it. On Christmas Day'two years ago Messrs. Malcolm, Ross, T. C.Fyfe, and S. Turner made a camp at the foot of the Liebig Range with a view to asconding the peak, as n practice climb preparatory to tho traverse of Mount Cook .I'roM the .Great Tasmnii Glacier a long ridge' intersected with snow slopes, appears to lend right to tho summit of the Nun's Veil' but these pioneer climbers on the Liobig Range on reaching Mount Borot, the highest point of the ridge, found that, though only 194 f<;U below tho summit of the Nun's Veil they were completely cut off from tho latter oj :i great gap in tlio range. The Nun s Veil occupies a commanding position in tho henrt of the-.Southern Alps from which is obtainable one of the most magnificent views of Mount Cook and the adjacent peaks and glaciers of the main range. Indeed, tho view must bo one of the finoat in tho Southern Alps.