A TRIP UP THE MOUNTAIN.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume X, Issue 1841, 30 January 1888, Page 2

A TRIP UP THE MOUNTAIN.

[By B.L.H.] A party of ten left Manaia on Saturday night shortly after nine o'clock en route for Mount Egmont, the reason for the lateness of the time of departure being that the party intended to travel during the night and endeavor to reach the summit of the mountain and be off the snow again before the reflection of the light of the sun from the snow became sufficiently powerful to be injurious to the eyesight. The weather had worn a rather threatening appearance for several days prior to the departure of the party, but deemed to improve on Saturday evening ; and most of the members of. the party expressed the opinion that the following day would oe all that could be desired, an opinion which subsequently proved to be grievously in error. A ride of about a couple,of hours' duration brought the party to' the head of the Manaia Road, and then it was that the 11 fun " commenced. It had been previously arranged to ride to Dawson's Falls, thereby necessitating a ride of some five or six miles (it is a difficult matter to estimate the distance accurately). through the standing bush. On entering the bush in Indian file, it was not long before two or three of the party lost the track ; and innumerable slight mishaps — such as being knocked off one's horse by a- tree, being struck in the face by a " lawyer " or supple* jack, &c. — occurring made the ride quite an interesting affair, and.caused.considerable amusement. However, the falls were reached at 1 a.m. without any being much the worse for their mishaps, and a halt was called by the captain (Mr. Dawson, who was by unanimous consent recognised in that capacity) to enable refreshments to be .partaken of and the horses attended to. After the wants of both man ■ and beast had been attended to, the ascent by foot commenced at about 2.20 a.m. A mile or two had been- covered when it com* menced to rain, but it was decided to push on, as it was thought that the rain would not continue long and in any case a wetting would be inevitable. Two of the party dropped out after having gone some distance further, and still two more, a mile or two ■ from the second crater (Fantham Peak). Still six travelled on, and two of these succeeded in reaching the second crater, the others being a abort' distance behind. . The 'ascent at this time was rendered extremely difficult by violent . gusts of wind, which swept down on those who still remained, almost without any warning whatever, compelling them, in many instances, to lie down in order to be more secure ; also there were heavy showers.- At this juncture, it was deemed advisable, though not without some reluctance, to return to the falls, .and the, downward journey -was accomplished in' a very short; time, the falls being reached r a little before 8 a.m. ' The ascent /was necessarily somewhat slow, everything being so slippery that it was difficult, in some cases,- to secure foothold. It wds. "Curious, to note when in the vicinity of the second crater the' different quarters frotn which showers -came. No sooner ,had one shower rpassedHover from one direction than another came) up from an entirely opposite quarter, i ' On their return. to the falls, the cix members of the party found the four who had. dropped out qilite comfortable, they.' having, returned and dried their clothes. When'. those of the party who had ascended highest (I being one of them) were well on' their downward journey, the weather 1 cleared, as had all along been expected, and the day turned out beautifully fine, "so that we were somewhat sorry that we did not continue the ascent, notwithstanding its being rather dangerous at the; time it was discontinued! I was shown a good many places of interest in theKapuni River, all of which have received* names after those who have at different - times paid visits to Egmont. I must not /attempt to describe them here', as it would be absolutely impossible for me to do justice to them j but I. should consider .the river scenery referred to equal ; 'to r ' anything of the kind in the world.' • Sueh o scenery can be better imagined than described. Several of -the party-went inM search of todea (otherwise known as the Prince of Wales' 'feru), and succeeded in obtaining, some fine specimens, , several of them having leaves fully four feet long. A start was then made for. home, which was reached in due course; ' I dori'f; think there was a single member oorf r the party^wijo "'really regretted hie experience' of mountaineering, although,! of course, thei& Were nob wanting those who would tell us '>what • asses ' we had been I" ' ' * ) < ",