The Ascent of Mt. Earnslaw.

Lake Wakatip Mail, Issue 1756, 18 April 1890, Page 5

The Ascent of Mt. Earnslaw.

The following is an account of the ascent made recently by Messrs H. Birley and Muir to the summit of the giant of the U'akatipu—Mf. Karnslaw, towering 91G0ft into the clear atmosphere—and which has been the first time that human feet have ever trod ou the top of this wonderful mount. The two adventurers left the Earnslaw Hotel in the afternoon of Saturday, 13th March, with the necessary climbing apparatus, and provisions for about three days. At six o'clock the Lennox Falls were reached after a journey of sr>me eighteen miles through the llees Valley. The horses were there left to graze and then, after a short climb through bush, etc., the top of the falls was reached, win re a halt for the night was made. Making an earlv start on the 16th the tir.-t glaciers w. re reached after about three hours' elimbiug. At this altitude the scenery was splendid, embracing the ranges from whence the Dart takes its ri.-<", also of the Bees and the Shotover. All the other snow crusted ranges were plainly visible—such as Mt. Anstead, Centaur Peak, and Mu Tynd.ill and Edwards. After obtaining footing on the first glacier two miles had to be traversed—the ice being broken ami furrowed, hut further on became more solid aud assuming a transparent i luish tint, water streaming on the surface to tiie depths below. Proceeding onward the ice was found t-> be full of cracks and crevices—some of which greatly impeded progress varyin„ m width from almost that which the baud could span to about 20ft across and would, therefore, occasionally require a good deal of zigzagging to cross—or, at all events, reach the other side—of them. This glacier occupied some three hours in crossing, after which a -addle was reached which runs north nd south, and about three-quarters of a mile between the highest peak and a knoll rising alxmt 7<Wt above the saddle. Toe summit of this knoll hid been visit,, d by Mr liirley before hut not by Mr Mmr. and from whi-h a splendid view is obtained- in fact, excelling the previous one described. The magnificent view takes in all the mountains before-named and Mt. Cook's hoary head is just to he dimmed in the dim distance—also the minor [lea'.s ..■ i jng between the two. the coast from Jackson's I'.ay to Milford Sound with all if- de.-p v,,'!..,-- and rig ■■ ■! b >\ -

a multitude of glistening waters, Mt. Christina, towering 10,000 ft. The Cosmos and also the farfamed Mitre I'eak, Milford Sound, all combining to make a magnificent, grand and wild Bcene. Leaving the knoll and journeying up Earnslaw to about the same height Mr Muir remained to indulge in his art, while Mr Hirley started alone to attempt the difficult and most dangerous feat, i.e., to stand where persons had never stood before—ou the summit of the Monarch. Another glacier was now encountered and proved very dangerous to ascend and could only be scaled by laying forward on the breast, cutting feet and hand holes with the iceaxe, carried for that purpose, along a diagonal course for over 1090 ft. Should a slip have occurred or had he lost his hold for one moment, the daring climber would have rolled and rolled down the face of the glacier and been hurled into one of the mighty gulfs beneath—and smashed to atoms. Several attempts proved futile to reach the summit but at last the glacier was conquered, which was done through great perseverance and immense dan ger. All the climbing that now remained was comparatively easy and about the middle of the afternoon Mr Hirley stood on the hitherto untrodden top of Mt. Earnslaw. The view obtained would be almost impossible to excel, and the alpine climber himself never anticipated such grandeur as was opened out to his gaze. All the lay of the country—north, east, south and westcould be taken in almost at a glance. One side of the mount was so precipitous that neither ice or snow could lodge thereon ; the top of the mountain—which is almost flat—is covered with a few large stones from which a cairn was built and surmounted by a flag, a bottle containing a marked coin of the realm was left to commemorate the ascent. The descent was then made and in twohoursMr Muir was rejoined, and both proceeded to camp, reaching Glenorchy on the morning of the 17th. The season was a very favorable one for the ascent, and had it not been for the recent dry weather it would have been doubtful whether the summit could have been reached, and such an opportunity of ascending the top of the renowned Mt. Earnslaw may not occur again for some considerable time. The climb could be made practicable to tourists with the outlay of some money, but the journey is evidently not one for novices.