ALPINE CLIMBING.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXXIX, Issue 9985, 14 March 1893, Page 6

ALPINE CLIMBING.

ASCENT OP MOUNT EARNSLAW. [Per Press Association.! GLENORCHY, March 13. Mount Earnalaw, one of the three great mountains of New Zealand, and one around which a special interest has gathered among alpine climbers, because ot the difficulty of the ascent, waa successfully scaled yesterday by Hi* Herbert Jones, F.R.G.S., the Australian traveller, and Mr Charles Edmond Clive, a naturalist from England, under tho guidance of Mr Harry Birley, tho well-known mountaineer of the Wakatipu district. Great enthusiasm is manifested here over this feat. It will he remembered that tho Rov W. S 3. Green tried the ascent of Mount Earnalaw in 3.883, but failed to reach a greater altitude than 5000 ft. Though repeated attempts have been made by variouo parlies, the summit was not reached until March, 1880, when Mr Harry Birloy, with remarkable pluck and daring, literally cut his way up over the massive glacier on the northeastern side. Ho cut 700 stops around one of tbo moat dangerous places any alpine climber could possibly encounter, and in hia final climb he wag entirely alone. Last year, under Mr Birley’s escort, Mr Malcolm Rose, of Dunedin,and his brother Kenneth readied the top. Mr Herbert J ones and Mr Clive are the onlj’ others who have looked upon the glorious panorama to be Eccn from this noblo mountain, but they have had - a trying experience on the great Biiley glacier. Owing to the intense frost that set in after they had cut their steps straight up its face, lato in the evening new steps had to be cut in tho flintlike ice during tho perilous descent of tho glacier at an angle of about 45deg. The cold and biting wind that prevailed was followed by a snow storm that covered the mountain nearly down to the bush lino, and though the party got through the dreaded glacier work, they were obliged to spend the night under a rock, where they found some shelter from tho blinding snowstorm.' They returned to Gleaorchy to-day, having been out since Saturday, and received tho congratulations of the residents and visitors upon their great achievement, in the face of such difficulties. They speak iu tho strongest terms of praiso of tho skill and care of their guide, Air Harry Birley, and they assert their belief that* no glacier work in Switzerland or elsewhere has exceeded that done by Birley on the occasion of Lin first ascent of Mount Sarnslaw. Birley’s daring feats, they say, would be incredible until tho place where he ascended is seen. Mr Herbert Jonas says tha view from the top is indescribably grand, embracing innumerable peaks, and many miles of glistening glaciers, including those of Mount Cook and Mount Aspiring in tha north'end east, and Mounts Tutufco and Christina in the west.