ACTIVITIES ON EGMONT

Hawera Star, Volume LIV, 10 December 1934, Page 11

ACTIVITIES ON EGMONT

' WEEK-END ASCENTS MADE CLUB PARTY REACHES SUMMIT LUNCH JN THE CRATER Organised by the Mount Egniont Alpine Club, a party of 34 club meni- ! bors and their friends reached Dawson Falls early yesterday morning and at 5 o’clock left on a climb to the .summit. The first cars left Hawera at 3.30 a.m. and at the appointed hour the whole party set out from the falls hostel under the leadership of the club captain (Mr Rod Syme). As the climb was open to those who had not previously made the trip, Mr Syme, in setting the pace, took the journey very quietly. Conditions -were ideal and ! Fantham’s Peak was reached in a light mist. Morning tea was prepared at Syme Hut and after a rest for an hour or so the ascent of Egmont was commenced, the crater being reached at mid-day or six hours after setting out from Dawson Falls. The climbers lunched in the bed of some rocks which offered a measure of protection against an icy wind which blew with great force. Afterwards, a climb w'as made to the highest point. This act, on the part of Mr Syme, completed his 100th ascent and established a remarkable record for New Zealand alpining.

With the exception of Air J. Blytli (Ohakune), who has made more than 100 ascents of Ruapehu, Air Syme’s feat is unique in New Zealand history, so far as amateur climbing is concerned, and it is doubtful if many professional climbers have made more ascents than Afr Syme on any one peak. Air Syme was warmly congratulated by the party. For years he has been a prominent figure in Taranaki alpine work, and his enthusiasm and labour generally on behalf of liis club, as well as on behalf of alpining generally, have drawn many recruits to the sport. Air Syme has many claims to distinction. I He W'as the prime mover in the formation of his club in 1028; he has made a triple ascent in less than one day; and with Air Gordon Alace, New Plymouth, he inaugurated in 1925 guideless climbing by amateurs in the Southern Alps, setting a fashion -which has become outstandingly popular in later years; and he has drawn much publicity on Egmont. It is nearly 14 years since Air Syme made his first ascent of the mountain. It was on January 14, 1921,

that he made the trip with Air Alan Watson (Feilding). Neither had previously been up, nor had they any great knowledge of the mountain. Probably (if the truth be known) fired by enthusiasm for climbing, Air Syme made his second ascent a fortnight later, crossing from North Egmont to Dawson Falls with Air AV. A. Sheat, Pihama. That climb is probably the only one on record in which Air Syme has been completely lost on the mountain, although t the two managed to reach their destination without serious difficulty. Congratulations to Air Syme were

voiced yesterday on behalf of the party by Air D. C. Ryan. Cheers were given and photographs taken of the group. Owing to the cold, the party did not remain long in the crater and the descent was made in fast time.

Thrills were provided by a party on skis, which traversed the mountain slope- to Rangitoto Flat. The party included Alessrs F. Addis and B. AlcAlillan (Stratford) and B. Alurpliy, 11. Snowden and AI. Shaw (Hawera). Air AlcAlillan returned to the summit and made a second descent. Tea was served at Syme Hut and the •descent of Fantham’s Peak to Dawson Falls commenced.

On arrival at the hostel Air Syme and the party were entertained at tea by the club president (Air L. O. Hooker). A toast list was honoured, and Air Hooker, proposing the health of Afr Syme, congratulated him on his record. Other speakers included Air J. P. Alurpliy, who said Air Syme’s feats in the Southern Alps, and particularly his traverse of Alount Tasman, were among the finest in New Zealand history, Air 11. Murray, who has himself made SI ascents, and Air Ryan. Air Syme said the more he climbed the mountain the more he liked it. It had restored him to health and given him much pleasure in his association with alpinists. He proposed the toast of those who that day made their first j ascent. Air AV. Cran replied.

NIGHT AT SYAIE HUT

VIEAV OF AIOUNT NGARUHOE

'On Saturday afternoon two visitors to Hawera, Alisses Betty Young (Palmerston North) and Joyce Woods (Ashburton), accompanied by Air A r . AI. Gerrand (Hawera) as guide, reached Dawson Falls and in ideal weather made the ascent of Fantham’s Peak, where the night was spent in Syme Hut. A magnificent sunset was witnessed and some remarkable panoramic views obtained of the surrounding countryside. At 6.30 o’clock yesterday morning the party climbed to the summit of Egmont the leader requiring to cut steps in the ice after leaving the scoria to the lip of the crater. On the way up an unusual sight was that of the eruption of Alount Ngaruhoc. Curtains of thick black “smoke”' rose to a great height above the mountain and spread out fanwise. The National Park group of peaks was clearly defined and the eruptions appeared to occur at intervals of two hours.

On reaching the crater of Egmont shortly before 9 o’clock, the party commenced a descent on the north side of the mountain as far as the Hen and Chickens. The snow was suitable for glissading. On picking up the North Egmont track, the party completed the round trip by reaching Dawson Falls at 4 o’clock after what had proved a memorable day for the visitors. On the lower slopes of Egmont some beautiful flowers were seen in full bloom and several fine specimens of mountain orchids were gathered.