A GIRL ALPINIST

Evening Post, Volume CVI, Issue 141, 18 December 1928, Page 13

A GIRL ALPINIST

One who finds herself particularly at homo among the Alpino wonders of Now Zealand is Miss Aroha Clifford, of Fondalton, who has just returned from an excursion to Mount Cook. Miss Clifford has, visited tho Hermitage on mailyvoccasions, but this time sho was courageous enough to undertake the "round trip." This tour, probably tho most interesting in this alpino region, needs experience and no small measure of onduringa, but Miss Clifford told a "Christchurch Press" reporter on Saturday that sho thoroughly enjoyed it. Except for a few places, sho said, it was not hard going, but ono had to be fit. Weather conditions wore good, except that mountain mists obscured the view in some places. Miss Clifford was accompanied by A. Brustad, a Hermitage guide, and tho magnitude of tho undertaking can be gauged from tho fact that this was the first occasion on which a guido from the Hermitage -had done tlio complete journey since it was accomplished years ago by Peter Graham, 'The route,. OS miles in length, lies over tho Copland Pass and Graham's Saddle. From tho Hermitage the party made for the Hooker Hut, and from there to the Douglas Rock, which was reached without incident, After journeying through the Copland Pass-, at a height of 7400 ft, they traversed the valley of the Copland River, arriving at Williams's accommodation house —a very wolcomo refuge. Aftor an eightmile tramp through Welcome Flat, saddle-horses wore commissioned, and by this means Scott 's homestead was reached. From there the trip was made right through to the Fox Glacier, and thence by mail car to Waiho. A stop of three days was made here, and Guide F. Alack accompanied tho party on the return journey as far as Graham's Saddle, which is 8739 foet in height. From this point the going was very heavy owing to the softer nature of the snow, and through the mists overhanging the mountain tops the magniflcenco of the view could be glimpsed only at intervals. Avalanche chutes were next negotiated, and after striking the Tasman Glacier and the head of the Rudolph Glacier, Ball Hutt was reached in the middle afternoon, and the journey back to the Hormitage completed. Miss Clifford is a firm believer in the uao of crampons, tho use of which, eho considers, enabled her to make the journoy in very good time. She pays a warm tribute to the mountaineering ability of Guides Brustad and Alack. Miss Clifford considers that this is an ideal time of the year for undertaking the trip, as the ice has not yet begun to crack and the snow is in fairly good condition. This young alpinist hopes to attempt the conquest of tho Minarets next year.