ALPINE CLUB

Grey River Argus, 28 May 1938, Page 8

ALPINE CLUB

FORTNIGHTLY BULLETIN. The Alpine Club’s fortnightly bulletin is as follows:— Once again we have a new alpine season upon us, and, although our initial outing for the year had to lie postponed for a week, on account ol inclement weather, prospects appear very bright indeed. Ascent of Bald Hill: . An excusion which has been postponed from an earlier date, is rarely an unqualified success when it is eventually held; but this was by nc> means the case with the club’s climb of the above mentioned peak last Sunday. It was an extremely encouraging sight to find a full bus load ol members, both old and new, waiting (and shivering) at the Post Office shortly after 8 a.m. A start was: made about 8.15 a.m., and 9 a.m. saw the party at Taylorville ■in readiness for the fray.

Bald Hill, approximately 2,500 feet in height, is the southern most peak of the Paparoa Range; but, despite! < its comparative lowness, is not the ■ simple climb it would appear. The' I first portion of the ascent is up the | track 'of the old winch line which, i many years ago, used to convey coal from the old Brunner mine .to lhe I bins at the bottom. At the terminus l'of this track can be seen the ruins I of the buildings which once served! ns accommodation houses, etc., for, I those who used to toil in these reI gions. From here a clearly deferred! , Jrack, now unfortunately becoming overgrown, leads along the main ridge! I to the summit of the hill. The grad- 1 I lent for the most part is easy, but! | near the summit it becomes steeperj I culminating in what is known as: . Jacob’s Ladder. j It was here that some of our new! | lady members threatened to rebel , and turn back, but luckily wiser , counsels prevailed, and some ten min-' utes later we were at the top, where no time was wasted in boiling the billy. I The view from Bald Hill is always i a fine one, but on such a day as last ' Sunday was truly magnificent. The entire chain of the Southern Alps I stood out from north to south. Unfortunately the snow is very late this ! year, but nevertheless the sight was an extremely inspiring one and welll worth a three hour climb. The passes into Canterbury were clearly discernable, whilst such peaks as Rolleston,] Louper, Cook and Tasman stood out majestically in the clear blue sky. ( During the afternoon opportunity' was taken to make a traverse along the tops towards Mount Davy, but) owing to the shortness of the day' it was not possible to make the homeward journey by this route. About 3 p.m. we left for home, and within three hours we were once, more at the Greymouth Post Office. Tramp Along the old Christchurch Road: Encouraged by the success of our tramp from Malfroy’s Bridge to Har- ] ris’s last year, the committee decided 1 to repeat this outing, and to-morrow, weather permitting, it is intended to 1 do so; this time however in the re- 1 verse direction; that is, we shall this i time start from Harris’s’. The ’bus s leaves the Post Office at 8 a.m. sharp, and it is hoped that A’e shall have t another successful excursion. s 1 Carroll Memorial: I We should like here to remind' ( members that, there is to be a work- (

ing trip to Kelly Range on Sunday, June sth, or on Monday June 6th, whichever day is the more suitable to members—don’t forget, be there. Your help is wanted if the hut is to be finished in time for the coming ski-ing season. Trampers’ Request e J, FOR NEW NATIONAL PARK. ‘ TN TARARUA RANGES. WELLINGTON, May 27. A deputation representing mountain - clubs and trampers waited on the Minister of Internal Affairs (Hon W. s E. Parry) urging reconsideration of the proposal to erect monuments at a various points as the Wellington Prot vincial Centenary Memorial, and sup- . porting the creation of the Tararua 1 Ranges as a national park. 5 Hon Mr Parry pointed out tramp- □ ing and mountain clubs had no cause s for alarm that their present activi--7 ties in the Tararuas would be in any s way curtailed, and that in all the cir-, cumstances, it might be advisable to t leave the position as it •was. There ; was a serious danger that . roading jl and other works would interfere with J the area if it were made into a Na-] fional Park. There wajs a large sec-' . tion of people adverse to the bush being disturbed, and also there was I a danger of fire. '