THE CREST OF RUAPEHU.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 777, 29 March 1910, Page 9

THE CREST OF RUAPEHU.

ANOTHER ASCENT.' , • A party of tourists from Raetihi and Rangataua- made the; ascent of Mount Ruapehu on Good Friday, going up by the free, mountain track, Which is just being put through by the. settlers. Leaving Rangataua, the party made their way up the Mangateitei Road, and then followed the' surveyed' road "line for two miles, which brought them-to the north branch" of" the Mangateitei Stream just abovo its junction with the south branch. Continuing up the succeeding Jhli'.ridgb to the base of the mountain, and beyond, it . the party eventually emerged beyond the bush lino,'' and, when in tho open country, an almost level grade took them nearly up to the glaciers, where the track joins the present private - track up to the summit. The • west side of tho bush country was covered with a thin veil of cloud looking' like the waves of the ocean, but to : the east and noi'th was a splendid prnorama of plain and nill, with Lake Taupo and its' island clearly showing n the distance The track when completed will form an easy way of .getting to tho mountain, and there is already talk of families camping -next summer at the top edge of the bush for their holidays.' There is : littlo doubt that eventually, there will be a road right to the snow-line, so that parties will he able to drive to tho foot of tho mountain and make tho ascent in two or three hours, while, with a mountain house, tourists and city families will be able to. enjoy the cool bracing air and the glissading. on tho glaciers. The distance..from Rangataua to the summit is about twelve miles, but '•■ will soon be possible to rido nine miles of the journey. .In descending it, is ppssible to glissade 1} miles, so that there will not bo much labour in returning to the horses.