ON THE MOUNTAIN

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 30 June 1925, Page 14

ON THE MOUNTAIN

WEALTH OF ATTRACTIONS. . (Written for The Star.') (By E.. 5.) Horn- aptly the Maoris chose many of their names! The Maori names ol ..“Taranaki” for Mit. Ejgmont and “Aoriangi” for Mt. Cook, meaning lc- - apectively the “Cloud, Fiercer” and the “Heaven Fiercer,” are good examples of the judgment shown in their choice. We in Taranaki are often told that we hare justification for our pride in Mt. Egmont, hut a visitor is usually surprised to find how little people know about the mountain, and how very few have laotuallly been within the radius line, the boundary of the Egmont National Park. That Tauanaki owes its reputation, as the greatest dairying centre of the Southern Hemisphere to the copious and regular rainfall in- • dijeed by its mountain is freely recognised by its inhabitants, but here their Interest in the mountain seems to end, . and it would appear that the publicity now being given to Mt Egmont is as much needed to give anv appreciation of itsi many attractions to the people of Taranaki as it is to the people Of other parts of the Dominion.' The days when a trip to the mountain necessitated' a certain amount of ■ ‘roughing it” are long past. We now -hia-ve excellently rum hc-stels at both; Damson- • Falls and Tahui'angi,, which' can jbe reached by good nietalled road's of easy gradient. At both these place’s, and at Iva-hui Hut and the old Stratford house, there i-s accommodation for those who prefer to batch. Something For All. For its'variety of attractions .Egmont would be hard to heat; -all tastes, all ages' and all amounts of energy are well provided for. Within a-quarter of a; mile of the Dawson Falls house, and on good tracks, are 'numerous beauty spots amongst- which the Dawson- . Falls themselves must receive ■pride of place.- Tracks through the bush provide access t.o both the top and foot of these falls, which are about 60 feet high' and with their setting ol native bush provide a beautiful sight, especially when the melting snow has, produced a fresh in the river. In the Kapiini River above the falls are Psyche’s Bath, Victoria Falls and Wilkie’s Pools, all well worth a visit. • On the other side of the track above -the house is situated the Ivaupokonui stream, with its falls and numerous other beauty spots. For excellent panoramic views of the bush with its clear-cut radius line, ol‘ the rich darying land , stretching for miles out to the coast and across to the' hill country, and of the mountain in the eetnre of the Island, one can either take the main track up the mountain for about three-quarters of a mile to the second seat, or choose the easier grade to Jackson’s “Look-Out.” which iss reached (by crossing the K&puiii River as in proceeding to Wilkie’s Pool, and then following the well-formed track that leads to Stratford ■ ■and' North Egmont houses for about one and a half miles. On a clear day the coast of the South Island is plainly visible. Continuing on along the main North Egmont- track past Jackson’s “LookOut,” the Manganui Gorge-is reached at a distance of a little- over two and a (half miles from Daw-son Falls. The massive grandeur of the rocky cliffs and bluffs at this spot -is typical of the gorges of the mountain, but few, can be as easily reached ou a good, track as can the Manganui. Looking out’ from the point where this track crosses the bed ,of the gorge, -a particularly fine view of the country -towards Stratford , framed by the commanding -precipices

of the locality, reminds one of the Grand Canyon .scenery of California. Returning from this spot a round trip may he made by leaving the main track to Dawson's at the Curtis Hut signpost, and then, proceeding past Curtis Hut over the ridge to the left and down into the bed of the Eapuni Gorge; thence following the stream to Wilkie’.s Pools the main track is again reached. The return, journey to Dawson's by this -route is about the same as the outward trip • to the Manganui Gorge. Challenge of The Summit. To -the young and able-bodied the summit off Egmpnt throws down ah almost' irresistible challenge, and on its higher slope's! the keen climber will find scope for miariy interesting expeditions. There ;arei,two main rofites to the summit from Dawsoh’s. In summer the better route is to take the North. Egmont- tratek to the -signpost just past- the Manganui Gorge, thence across the tussock and; moss slopes to the foot off the- “F'olicemati,” and nit to the lava flow, which forms Hie east ridge leading straight up to the eastpeak on the edge off the crater. On this rente no scoria; has to be traversed,. the track leading from, the moss oil to solid rock, which provides a, good climb at any finte- the rocks- are clear of ice. The other route over Fant ham's Peak -is very easy to follow, as it leads straight up the scoria slopes of Fanthahi’s. and the main peak -to the rocks of Mia-okay’s Ridge, and thence over the lip of the crater, which'■hais to be crossed -to reach the trig on the highest point. litimates of the area of the 1 crater -have shown a. wide variation, but it is probably not more than six acres in extent, although D-iffen-b-acli, who in 1.839, with Hehbh-rley, made the 'first ascent of Egmont, says: “We at last reached' the summit and found that it ephsi-sted of a field of>enow a squiaire nWle in extent.” The view from! the sriiiriknit OR/ & clear day repays one many times over for the, energy expended qri the. climb. Beyond the circle of, the radius line the roads, the farm houses, and farther out the towns, can. all be closely located, while across- at the.hack 6f Ingle-" woo’d, Stratford,, and Blithiam, for miles' and miles extends that vast area, of broken country that forths -such a large part of -the North Island, while in the distance are clearly seen Ruapehu,, Ngauruhoe and Tongar-iroj, and the Ruahines can be followed for miles. The coast-line is easily traced to- Ganct | Island and Ivawhai in the’ north and down to Kapiti’ Island in the south. Across) the strait the sounds a re plainly visible, with the Ka-ikouras beyond, while further south rise one after the other the snow-clad peaks of the Southern Alps'. Hardly less striking is the view when the land is all ■shutout from, sight by a sea of clouds, -leaving Egmont islanding like an island, while far away across the billowy sur-face-rise the islands of Ruapehu and Ngauruhoe. Trips of Exploration. To those posisesed with the spirit of the explorer a trip to> Lake Dive is always popular. The distance is about five miles, but a- whole day is usually taken for the trip ; mountain'miles are always long, even on the outward journey.' The best rout© is to proceed -as in climbing Fantham’s Peak till'the open tussock pasture is reached, and then -bear away round to the left, keeping at this level- until directly above the lake, which, will he seen down in the hush at about ~ the , 2700 feet level and just above the higher of the two “Beehives,” those peculiarly dome-shaped hills. It is advisable to take a- slasher for use in the bush, as, unless one- of the recently cut tracks is ■struck, great difficulty will' be . met with in forcing, a way through the thick undergrowth. A wfili-bla-zed

trail is also an asset; on' the return journey, and, through neglecting to take this precaution, more than one party have spent the night- in the bush. The lake, which is beautifully situated, with bush to the water’s edge, is several acres in extent, and until late yeans has provided a safe refuge- lor wiki duck. It is to be regretted that poaching is now freely carried out on this area, of water.

Other longer trips that can be undertaken from; Dawson Falls are to the North Egmont house at Tahurangi, a- distance- of about six miles by a-well-formed track, and on ,to Bell’s Falls,- a; distahch of ten miles, The Bell’s. Falls locality is one off the most beautiful oil the irioTmt'ain, the track there leading past the well-known laiidriTark of Warwick Castle ii-nd it.umpjhrey’s- Castle, along the' foot off the huge precipices off the Pi fi'eubacli Cliffs iand the “Crike’,” and on round the s-vhnp, which lies in the basin be-

tween Mt. Eigmont and the Pouakai Ranges, to the falls, where the Stony River drains from the- swamp The falls have a height of just on IQOf-t, and 'always have a large flow of water. They are, however, dwarfed by the huge overshadowing cliffs, which rise almost 'perpendicular- for a height of 600 ft, Another interesting trip that should- only he undertaken iii summer is to go from Fantham’s Peak across to the top of Bob’s Bluff, that huge pile of rock on the sky-line to the left of Fantbam’s Peak, and thence to the Ok aim Gorge .arid down to Kapuni Hut. which is only four miles by an excellent track from; Bell’s Falls, At night during the '.summer the top of Bob’s Bluff is the camping spot of hundreds of go-a-tis, which c-ome up from the Oaonui and other gorges in this vicinity. The Okahu- Gorge as the Jaepest and longest- on the mountain,

extending up -.almost; to the crater, -and in places being enclosed By cliffs' which rise to a' height of 320 ft. Winter Climbing. At this time of the year, when the snow extends well down .oil the tussock slopes, the mountain hdlds a new interest for the enthusiast who. is well equipped lor v? inter climbing. Tn the crater, especially everything is? changed. Nothing, could be more beautiful than the, rocks! round the flip of tlie ,crater,: with their magnificent ice formations and huge hanging icicles. A trip to the hostel at any time when the snow is well down in the hush provides’ a unique sight for we-'Taranakian® to whom enow is hardly known; and'yet it is isnrpiismg how few make the trip in the winter, when the mountain is really at its best. It is certainly to be regretted that Bgmont does not provide scope for siding, as do Ruapehu andi Miy Cook, where winter sports are every year at- - t.racting larger crowds. The only

part off Shitable for skiing is on Rlangitoto Flat, between Fanthamls and the main peak. Here there is an -a-re-a-. of 25 acres of fairly level slopes, but it is too far from! the hostel Ito ever he used extensively for tlii-s purpose. However, there are numerous slopes where gli-ssiading can he isaifely indulged in, provided the snow is in suitable condition, and there are few more exhilarating experiences than that of a good long glissade.

A Botanist’s Paradise. Rut Egmont holds interests for others besides the climber. From the botanist's point of view it provides an almost inexhaustible field of study. Even to the casual observer the gradations front hush to alpine scrub, from all priri® scrub to alpine tussock meadow, arid finally to the mossy slopes is very striking; arid what■ silent testimony of a life-long struggle against the elements is expressed ,by the gnarled arid

stunted growths! of the alpine scrub. Certainly here is a place: where Nature is carrying out .her ruthless elimina tion of the unfit. The mountain has a, rich supply of -plants that are either rare or entirely unknown in the- hush of the lower (altitudes. Many of these have beautiful flowers ; some large and showy, as in the ease q.f the Mt. Egmorit buttercup; others, such as the New’ Zealand violet and the North Island eyebright, ism-all -and inconspicuous but none the less beautiful. Perhaps the publicity now. being given to: the beauties of Mt. Egmont will not only '<attract an increasing number of visitors from, other districts, but will! also- help to foster in the young people of Taranaki a live interest in the mountain and a desire- to conquer the challenge, of its snowcapped summit.