ALPINE CLIMBING

Grey River Argus, 7 August 1937, Page 11

ALPINE CLIMBING

West Coast Club FORTNIGHTLY BULLETIN. The past fortnight has been an eventful one for this Club, inasmuch as it has seen the beginning of cooperation between ourselves and the members of the H&kitika Branch of the Canterbury Mountaineering Club. This is an achievement of which we are proud; and it is to be hoped that the two Clubs will in future move forward side by side and, whenever possible, join in combined outings. When all is said, we have a “common goal,” and that is the development of mountaineering on the West Coast. At this juncture, it would perhaps be of interest if we mention something of the doings of our southern friends. The Hokitika Club consists of an enthusiastic body of mountaineers, headed by the Rev. Father O’Gorman and Mr. V. Barnes, their President and Secretary respectively, who are making great strides in furthering the sport in their district despite many difficulties. It speaks volumes for the work of the two gentlemen mentioned that the Club has progressed as it has. The chief drawback in Hokitika is the securing of suitable transport to and .from the points from which their climbs start. This will be further appreciated when we state that the Club’s members are scattered as far south as Hari Hari. Unfortunately, the individual members do not possess more than one motor car and, as the cost of hiring an omnibus is prohibitive, it is to be hoped that as the membership grows, the fleet of cars will do likewise. Our first meeting with the Hokitika body took place on Wednesday, 21st. July, when we were their guests

at an enjoyable motion picture entertainment held in'their Club Rooms and it would not be right if we did not here express our appreciation of their hospitality on that occasion. CLIMB OF MOUNT TUHUA. Once again rain interfered with our schedule and caused the postponement of this outing from July 24th. until last Sunday. Fifteen of our members left Greymouth by ’bus, and, having been joined by a party from Hokitika, proceeded to Lake Kanieri, from which point the assault on Mount Tuhua was commenced in fine weather. Fairly good time was made but just before we reached the summit of the mountain, a heavy mist blew up and completely blotted out the surrounding countryside with the exception of a portion of the upper Arahura Valley. Fortunately, however, we had been able to obtain many excellent views from vantage points during the ascent; as it is certainly disappointing to climb 3,500 odd feet and get, as a reward, a panorama of mist. Just near the top of Tuhua is a tarn, frozen to a depth of about eighteen inches; but threatening rain prevented us from indulging in the thrills of ice skating—in any case skates were conspicuous by their absence, and one cannot skate very efficiently in nailed boots. Early in the afternoon the weather lived up to its traditional West Coast reputation; but, luckily, only light rain fell during the descent to lower levels, and the party were still comparatively dry when the lake was reached once more. TRAMP IN THE ARAHURA VALLEY. To-morrow (Sunday), the outing takes the form of a tramp along the old Christchurch-Hokitika road, from Harris’s to Mai Croy’s Bridge. This trip caters more for the “hiker,' 1 but

to all members it should afford the opportunity of seeing some of the magnificent bush scenery with which our district abounds.