OVER THE RANGES

Evening Post, Volume CI, Issue 42, 18 February 1921, Page 4

OVER THE RANGES

RECORD TRIP FROM OTAKI TO

' GRE\ rTOWN.

(moa ouk own cbit«KSPONi>»M.)

On Sunday, 13th, a record trip was msde aoross the Tararuas from the Otaki side. Tlie party comprised Mr. W. F. Russlin)? and. four students from the track party, viz., Messrs. P. M: Brookcr, Douglas J. Brown, D. Dickson, and L. A. Jones. A start was made from "The Forks" at 4.20 a..m. on a morning sharp wjth frost —an' ideal tor travelling. The party made good time to Table Top, arriving at 6.5, after enjoying a most beautiful sight-> sunrise on iho ranges. A stop was mada p.S ihc track party's camp, for breakfast, and 20 minutes later continued on to Heci tor, which was reached'at 7.50. The view from Hector is m itselt worth tho trip, Ruapchu, with its snow-capped crown thrust above the intervening ranges, being conspicuous. Further tn the west the Turanaly Bight sweeps up m a beautiful curve fro^iri the Otaki beach, whilo just beyond, Egmont rears a single beautiful crown above the clouds. liapiti, «et in its. suu-lif, waters, appears at its beet from Hector, then the view sweeps on aoross tho Straits tp the South Island, with thuopenings of the Sounds oloarly outlined. Anothat wonderful sight is tho viow of the Kaikouraa, especially if Mount Atuanulcu is visible, as the party were fortu^, nato enpiigh to see. Nearer "at hand tho ndjjes of hills and mountain ranges are a pioturo of great beauty, and down tho ond of the Hutt Valley, Wellington ap^ pears, sot between the harbour and tho hilla beyond. The -Wairarapa, in its turn, eontributw to the picture. Tho long ■plains, stretching away to the north are a sight worth seeing; then away to■ tho south the Wairarapa Luke is visible, an<| | in its turn Pallisor Bay, with tbu surf breaking on its sand^. After a few minutes' etay, the trip was continued across to Alpha, which wag reached at 9.5. A short distance down the track Alpha. Hut was passed^and the? journey to Omega commenced. Beyond Omega tho way loads on to tho Tauhere^ niktiu river, and then, up Mount Reeves for the iinal daeh. Soon, beyond Reeves, open OQiintry \vbs reached, and at 2-35 tho trip ended at Bassett's Xitit, and a imichnceded rost enjoyod. Tlie whale journey ocoupiod 10i hours, fairly faafe travellipg, but for ordinary purposes it is bettor tq talcft two or three tlayt aud enjoy to the full the wonderful sconfcry of tiia bush and range, (j-rnnt credit must ba paid to tho local comniittee, who have worked fo hard to open up the- walk, Tutd who have built huts at convenient places for the benefit of tourists and visitors to the district. ' It is indoed a boon to have t>o c1ok« at band a pleasure spot, the prc«crvrHoij of which has bcon the result of unstinted effort.