NATIONAL PARK

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 93, 22 April 1925, Page 12

NATIONAL PARK

A SOURCE OF WONDER

AN EASTER VISIT.

During the Easter holidays three Palmerstonians (Messrs. C. T. Salmon, D. Morrison, and R. M'lnnes), together with Mr. Newton Broad, of Feildmg, paid a visit of exploration to the Tongariro National Park. After a description of the first part of the journey, the tourists in a statement to the " Manawatu Standard" continue:—

The following day camp was shifted over to Mungatepopo, some twelve miles away, where a new hut has been erected. „ Next morning the members of the party were early astir, and, setting out from camp*at about 5.45 a.m., they had accomplished the ascent of Ngauruhoe by 10 o'clock. A remarkable sight was re^ vealed in the north-west crater, for, while a block of ice occupied the bottom, steam was issuing from holes at various points in the crater bed. The ascent was made from the opposite side of the crater by the aid of the rope, the party, who_ now had been reduced to three, coming out on to " Dead Horse Ridge." Such weird naming had been given the point, explained Mr. Salmon, from the fact that in 1912, by some manner of means, . a horse had made its way to this point, there to be overwhelmed by the mud. . On reaching the main crater a further remarkable sight was revealed, for emerging from the crater Were masses of steam clouds, while the countryside was clearly disclosed. With the naked eye, so clear was the visibility, one could see right up to the Bay of Plenty, Lake Taupo, and the thermal regions of Wairakei, while the intervening rivers and native bush gave a colourful effect to the view.

The descent, which the party was reluctant to commence, was made by way of the eastern side into the Outere crater via Ngauruhoe, across Red Scree to 'the level of the southern crater, and thence by the rock slide under Catherine's Head. The route here diverged, the ascent by way of Tapekapeka Ridge, which leads to a crater some 700 yards by 1500 yards in dimensions, being undertaken. The three peaks, Kereaorangi, Oruamatua, and Turonganui, were next traversed, some magnificent mases of rock being encountered. Prom Turon<ranm a line was struck for the centre crater, where the lava is believed to be the most recent in New Zealand, andthence down to the Blue Lake, winch is undoubtedly an extinct crater now filled with water, so perfect is its circumference. A different route was then taken back to the central crater and thence to the red crater, which is almost carmine- in colour. One of the many wonders of the region was here revealed for, while $he crater was active, belching forth clouds of steam at the foot were pools of ice-cold water of greenish hue, surrounded by the hot earth. !

The final stages qf the downward iourney were via the 1400 foot, razor-back of the crater ridge and down into the southern crater. _ Owing to fo £ descending and the wind veering round, the task of discovering Holl's Pass proved impossible, and the final portion of the descent was made over 900 feet of unknown route. The little party were somewhat relieved to emerge safely but were nevertheless, greatly delighted by the day they had experienced. On the Wednesday a visit was paid to Ketea T} ere -VOo]s o{ hoi]inS mud, hot and cold springs, pools of water of different hues, and all the activities of the thermal region abound-