First Ascent of Egmont

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 208, 30 May 1936, Page 21

First Ascent of Egmont

Mount Egmont was one of the h l ’®*- mountaius of any size in New Zealand to be climbed by Europeans, ami is to-day one of the most frequently ascended. The first ascent was made in December, 1839, by Dr. Dieffeubach and Mr. Heberley, from a spot near where New Plymouth now stands, and took, ten days, even with the help of Maori guides in the bush. In JS77 the botanist, Buchanan, wrote that the ascent was becoming a very popular climb with residents of Taranaki, and the journey on horse-back and foot from the town to the top and return could be done in three days. The route then followed—via Carrington Road and Ponakai Range—has been abandoned in favour of the northernmost of the three mountain motor roads, aud tracks, by which one can easily visit the summit and return to New Plymouth within the day. _ Other examples of marked reduction in travelling times for mountain regions since the early days are those for the journey from Timaru to the Bail Glacier—from eight days to less than one day—and Hokitika to the upper Arawhata River (South Westland) —from over a week (by land) to three hours (by air)-.— BAY J. (Wellington).