THE COPELAND PASS

Evening Post, Volume XCIV, Issue 69, 19 September 1917, Page 4

THE COPELAND PASS

SAFELY CROSSED IN SEPTEMBER.

Mr. Peter Graham, the well-known Alpine guide, whose name has been associated for many years with the Mount | Cook region, is visiting Christchurch, after an interesting little trip over the Copeland Pass, the route which furnishes the most practicable approach to Southern "Westland from the Mount Cook Hermitage. The Copeland Pass (says the Christchurch Press) was first crossed in 1895, by that great climber, Fitzgerald; the passage was made a little later by Harper. Since those days the route has gradually grown in popularity amongst summer visitants to the Alps, as it opens up some of the finest mountain scenery of Westland, including the Fox and Waiau glaciers (the latter was formerly known as the Franz Josef), and a perfect wonderland of characteristic West Coast landscape. The stages of the journey have been made easier for the tourist by the establishment of accommodation huts and a good hotel on the.Toute, and while' 1 the passage, save in the seaspn, is not recommended to the average visitor, Mr. Graham and his wife have several times in recent years crossed the pass in the early spring. On their'most recent journey the party consisted of Guides Graham and Lipp and Mrs. Graham. They followed the usuaJ procedure on such expeditions, leaving the Hermitage late in the afternoon and spending the night at tha Hooker hut, altitude 3800 ft. Next day'» journey took in the climb over the Copeland Pass, whose/summit lies/ 7000 It above sea level: There had been a heavy fall of enow a few, days "before, and the, going was heavy, but the weather held beautifully fine ,and there was i no danger for such experienced climb-! ers. Descending to Welcome Flat (1400 I feet),, where there are hot springs and a good hut, the. party inspected the new bridge which is being built over the Copeland River. This bridge, which will be finished, it is, expected, by next tourist season, will prove very welcome to travellers, obviating the fording of a river uii_ j certain in its habits. The third day's journey lay along a. route near the Fox glacier, one of the most imprefsive spectacles in South Westland. , After' leaving the Waieka camp the party marched on to the Waiau Gorge, where there is a modern hotel, equipped with electric light and, all other conveniences. The road down to the gorge was found in excellent condition, quite up to motor traffic require^ men^s. There are also hot springs at Waiau, and'this,.part of the journey included the famous glacier, bringing the party down to the coach terminus of the Hokitika and Ross services. The journey, back into Canterbury lay through the Otira Gorge, the round trip including some of the finest mountain scenery in New Zealand. Mr. Graham emphasises the practica- ] bility and comparative eass of the journey, even in early spring. In the coming season he expects a large number of visitors will undertake the journey. -In fact several have already made "their 'affatigem'ents. T"■*"-.. V