Bushcraft in Ranges

Dominion, Volume 26, Issue 184, 2 May 1933, Page 11

Bushcraft in Ranges

Sir, —As one who has had considerable experience in mountainous bush country in South Westland, I feel that I should be wrong in not pointing out to trampers the errors that I think have been made by the party on the Tararuas. According to the account, one of the party, Mr. O'Keefe, was badly injured during the late afternoon, on the first day. Soon afterward the weather became bad, with snow falling, and the party did the right thing then in going down into the bush to make shelter. They went on the next day “because tlie storm showed no signs of decreasing.” This, from a bushman’s point of view, was the very reason why they should not have moved, because the high country obviously would be under snow, and in the lower country there -would be. flooded rivers. They should have stayed where they were and weathered out the storm. The party are reported to have said they decided to get out near Otaki. In doing this, which involves tackling high country and going ta the west in the face of westerly weather, tbe party acted contrary to the first principles of bushcraft. They should have kept on the less exposed eastern side of the main range, and this error undoubtedly delayed their return. I am very much relieved at their coming back without serious disaster, but I cannot help feeling that the anxiety, and the hardships for the searchers, could have been much less, even if they could not have heen entirely avoided, had the party acted in accordance with rules known to experienced bushmen. Tn matters of this kind it seems to me that there is invariably a tendency for too much being made of the missing party's experiences. and too little of the work and expense undertaken by those who have carried out the search. —T am, etc..

ARTHUR P. HARPER, vice-pres., N.Z. Alpine Club. Wellington, May I.