OVER JAQUIERY PASS

Dominion, Volume 31, Issue 104, 27 January 1938, Page 5

OVER JAQUIERY PASS

Pioneer Hike By Wellington Trampers Who Visited Breaksea And Dusky Sounds

A PARTY of trampers, organised by Miss G. Niven, of Wellington, and led by Mr. Leslie Murrell, the well-known guide of Manapouri, has recently returned to Wellington after visiting Dusky and Breaksea Sounds. The party was the first one to make the double crossing of the Jaquiery Pass—24so feet—connecting Hall’s Arm of Doubtful Sound with Vancouver Arm of Breaksea Sound. It is reputed that the Jaquiery Pass was climbed from the west about 40 years ago, but there is no authentic record of the ascent. However, about 24 years ago, it was climbed from the east by Messrs. Jaquiery, Fowler and Murrell, the guide of the present party.

T H B traumpers left Wellington on Christmas Eve, reaching Lake Manapouri about midnight on Christmas night. On Boxing Day a launch trip of 22 miles down Lake Manapouri took them to a comfortable lint at the west arm of the lake, the starting place of the trip over the Wilmot

Pass, which is 2260 ft. in height. The track follows the Spey Biver for some four to live miles, and then rises fairly sharply through beautiful vegetation until one reaches the summit, guarded by the sentinel peaks, Mts. Wilmot and Barber. From here the party had their first view of Doubtful Sound, which, on

lids occasion, seemed to be painted in the most marvellous tones of azure blue. After a steep descent the party enjoyed the comparative comforts of the cottage at Deep Cove, at the bead of Doubtful Sound. Deep Cove wins the hearts of most visitors; the beauty of the Stella Burn flowing beside the cottage, the Helena Falls (850 ft. the scarlet ratas and the morning chorus of the birds all make one long to remain there and enjoy the peacefulness. Over “The Jiggery.” However, the pioneering effort was still ahead, so they went on by launch, past Davidson’s Head and Commander Peak in Hall’s Arm, landing some little distance on, on the western side of the sound. Then commenced the crossing of the Jaquiery Pass, more affectionately known to the party as "the Jiggery.” A rough bush track took them through varying types of vegetation, ' until the summit was reached after a 1

five-hour climb. On the way up the denseness of the bush had rather restricted the outlook, but the track at several points led out to the edge of a beautiful mountain cataract, tumbling for hundreds of feet down the mountainside. Amid 6000 ft. Peaks. The party proceeded along the ridge for about half a mile, and had very tine views of the 6000 ft. peaks surrounding them. Then commenced the rain and a scramble and slide down through bush and mud: there was no track on the western side of the pass, and their guide simply went ahead clearing a way with his slasher. The western side of the pass was more precipitous than the eastern, the average angle being about 80 degrees, and there were several rock bluffs to be negoti ated. These caused a little difficulty at times, and when another one was reached, about 8 p.m., it was thought wise to make camp in the bush for the night.