MILFORD TRACK

Evening Post, Volume CV, Issue 11, 14 January 1928, Page 8

MILFORD TRACK

A TRAMPERS' PARTY. MAGNIFICENT SCENERY HAPPY THOUGH WET The happy camaraderie of the Tararua Tramping Club, proved in many a local trip over the ranges and through tho valleys round Wellington, adds to the enjoyment of tho parties of members who from time to time make excursions further afield. It ia a sure guard against the spoiling of any trip through bad weather, and to a large extent it saved part of the walk to Milford, Sound, undertaken by a party of 33 members over the Christmas holidays, from being a rather damping experience. Leaving Wellington by the ferry steamer on. the Friday before Christmas, the'journey to Dunedin by rail was shorn of a good deal of its tedium because the party had a reserved carriage, and the gathering was more of the nature of a family reunion. They were well entertained by the Dunedin Tramping Club at the week-end, concluding with a dance. Train and service cars took them to Te Anau, where the night was spent, but next day the rain which dogged them nearly all the trip began to fall. LIKE A BOTANICAL GARDEN. "The top of the lake," said a member of the party to a "Post" reporter, "was beautiful. A pretty walk of ten miles took us to Glade House and lunch. As our destination that night was the Pompalona Hut we did not wait long, but after being ferried over the Clinton Eivcr we started on the grandest walk it is possible to imagine. The first stage of ten miles, to Pompalona is like walking in a botanical garden. We walked slowly, stopping to admire the distant snows or some pretty reach of the Clinton River. The valley narrows in as you walk, and high cliffs tower up on each side for thousands of feet. The grandeur of the scenery increases as you approach Pompalona. Cascades come tumbling down preeipitious cliff faces, fed from huge snow fields dimly discernible now and then through the lifting mists. The weather was clearing, and we were hopeful of a fine day on the morrow, but showers of rain dashed our hopes that night. Pompalona Huts are in excellent condition, and well run, and we enjoyed our stay. As we were a largo party in ourselves, and were augmented by seven tourists, who were 'tickled to death' at the packs we were carrying, some of us turned to and assisted the married couple who, were running the hnt to put through a double sitting of meals. It was camping de luxe. THE M'KINNON PASS. "Next day was decidedly damp, and the mist was hanging low over M'Kinrion Pass, but we set off, and got peeps of Balloon Peak and the surrounding mountains. Some of us got thoroughly wet, but we all carried a complete change. This section of the track is not a tourists' track in wet weather, but better than some of tho Tararuas. As we zig-zagged up the pass, the grade being very good, wo gradually got out of the bush and into the snow grass, and the track became bordered with many varieties of beautiful mountain flowers. Mist and rain, however, kept us moving. The monument on the top was visited, and then we went to the edge of the cliffs which drop sheer down for some 3000 feet. Below, across the valley shrouded in mist, could be seen the track winding down to the Quinton Huts. "Two streams we got across all right, though they would certainly present difficulties when swollen by heavy rains. After a cup of afternoon tea at Quinton Huts, we pushed on to Sutherland Falls. Those of us who were still dry did not linger long in the vicinity of the falls, as the spray flew off the ground, got up under coats, and wet everyone thoroughly. The sight was ;magnificent, and well worth the ducking, though we profited by the experience, and on the return trip bathing suits were very much in evidence. At the comfortable Quinton Huts it was our turn to smile at the miserable tourists wrapped in blankets, waiting for their steaming clothes to dry, while we were changing into dry things. RAGIN.& TORRENTS AND CASCADES. "An early start was made next day, which, though promising a break in the weather, still gave one or two showers, while mist shut out much of the view. The beauty of the valley was nevertheless enhanced by the raging torrents into which the rain turned the cascades. The river was up six feet, and in places wo had walk over bridges with the water well over our knees, but we enjoyed it all, and while waiting for the boat to take us over Lake Aida (the river was too high to walk this portion) we spent a happy half-hour singing part songs and slapping sand flies. The weather was clearing, and tho trip down Lake Aida was pleasant. "The weather was unfortunately not very favourable for our trip on Milford Sound, intermittent showers persisting, but we had a good view of the Bowen and Stirling Falls, and a* occasional glimpse of Mitre Peak, but the latter was capped with mist most of the time. The sea was too rough to go out to the mouth of the sound, so we returned to ■ Saudfly Huts. Next morning we wero unable to go on the Sound, though the weather was brilliant, but we had a perfect trip to Lake Aida, where the reflections were wonderful. The ferns and bush which grow down to the water's edge are indeed beautiful, reminding one of the track from Doubtful Sound to Manapouri. Tho day was perfect. From tho track we obtained wonderful views of the Sutherland Falls as we approached Quinton Huts, and tho snowcapped peaks looked wonderful under the full moon that night. "Next day the rain returned, and we had another bad day for crossing tho pass. We were unfortunate to miss the fine view looking down the pass towards Quinton Huts. The avalanches were in good form, and could be heard thundering down the cliffs. We celebrated New Year's Eve at the Pompalona Huts, which we had almost to ourselves, and had a thoroughly enjoyable time in spite of the dampness. We woke in tho morning to sec a fine day at last, and the final stage of the journey was made in ideal conditions. "Facilities at most of the huts are good, but there are two things missing, shower baths and drying rooms. We ivero told these wore to bo provided at .an early date."