SKI-CLIMBING

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 143, 18 June 1937, Page 11

SKI-CLIMBING

NZ. CONDITIONS

AN OVERSEAS CRITIC

"The finest piece of ski-mountalneer-mg it has been my privilege to enjoy," is the description applied by Mr. Colifl. W. Wyatt, the English expert, to hi», winter holiday m tlie New Zealandt Alps last year. Mr. Wyatt has coii? tributed a long article to tlie "Alpipif Journal" (Great Britain), in which hi has much praise for the natural attrac*. tions of New Zealand for the cbniber and ski-runner and some criticism'pf the organisation, of these sports in,

the Dominion. ■ " "New Zealand offers as fine skimountameering as any country, but to enjoy it to the full and to reap the greatest benefit one must have mora, or less unlimited time," Mr. Wyatt, writes. ."The 'nisular' climate 15 exceedingly erratic and uncertain, the country being swept frequently by nor'-westers, the local equivalent -of the Fohn, which last anything front three to six days and render it jmposy,, sible to leave the huts But indefinite weather as we know it is rare; as-* rule it is either obviously perfect pr equally obviously impossible. When planning a few weeks' touring on the glaciers it is never safe to gamble on more than an average of three fine days out of seven, and one must be' prepared frequently to be obliged to possess one's soul in patience for day* on end, waiting for the storm t$ break." : "VIEWS UNEQUALLED." "But if your time is your own I call imagine no finer country for wintefi expeditions. The glacier ski-ing it superb and the views unequalled, sines from most of the main peaks one cai* look down to the waves breaking ol* the coast in the distance, while th« hjits are very comfortable and -we\% stocked with provisions Moreover^ high alpine conditions occur at 2000* 3000 feet lower than m the Alps. Also* owing to the humidity of the atmoj^ phere the snow binds very rapidly and. solidly, and the danger >of snow avalanches is almost non-existent In the Southern Alps the skwng is usually good; in the North Island it is as a rule too * icy except in la}« spring, but there the utter strange-' ness of the mountains and country more than offsets this disadvantage-V - Mr Wyatt describes.his> ski tnp»through the great glaciers of the Southern Alps and his notable ascents, on several of the great peaks on ski, with Guide Mick Bowie, who, apart from being absolutely first-rate as * guide, was also a good ski-runner and the most perfect companion for sucti a.trip under every condition.' Heay* he looks forward to the next visit,'for he had barely skimmed the surface of the work that can be done in thos* parts. • "STRICT BARGAINING NECES- ; * SARY." "The New Zealand Alpine Club is, erecting new huts whenever possible, but hut building is far more expensive and arduous a matter than vi Europe, chiefly owing to- the 'lack of materials anywhere near the site, and. the time and expense in packing them in when obtained, as often as not on men's backs. Only a small minority of the mountain valleys boast trail* and these, unless fairly well frequent* ed, soon become merged into the bush, again, since there is no labour antfr where near at hand for their upkeep. '*Hut fees, in the areas where the huts belong entirely to the New Zealand Alpine Club, are very, reasonable, especially considering that they are stocked with food and fuel. In those' areas, however, where they are under, the control of a commercial company, very strict bargaining is absolutely necessary before starting a trip. Al» guides* fees are out of all proportio.l to European charges, the charges fdr ascents of the more famous peakS being quite ridiculous. Unfortunately no maps worthy of the name are available, and it is therefore not safe for any but a thoroughly experienced party, or a party containing one NearZealander in it, to venture out lac doubtful weather, since a compass ,i)r of little or no use without reliable, maps. ... GOVERNMENT CONTROL .:;, • ADVOCATED. -. "The Southern' Alps form an ideal area for the keen mountaineer and ski-mountaineer, but for amateur parties, unless they have ample money and time at their disposal, they are at present too expensive and unsafe from weather; causes. - "It is greatly to be hoped that fltt. Government will realise the asset 'ttf the nation provided by the Southern Alps, and will make an effort to har* all huts under the control of the New Zealand Alpine Club with a fixed scale of charges, and also to settle definitely an official guiding tariff for the whols country. The institution of a propel school for guides, awarding diplomas, is much to be desired, but I fear is far too Utopian > at' present: j

"The few first-class guides, who are every.bit as fine ,as the crack Europeans, ere much booked-iip in ad? vance, and inexperienced strangers; not in the know* may be put in tfeg hands, of any, odd man round the hotel; irrespective of his knowledge J oil mountain<raft. This, of course, _«£ plies only to the very crowded anil would-be. ."European* * resorts. In the smaller places, especially those ■ m^jjaged by, past.climbers, the consideration and care shown to all types oi parties leave'nothing to be desired.-JvJ

"Mountains have made, the fortunel of Austria and Switzerland; there..i| no reason why they should not do -.ap in. New Zealand as well." *«