THE NATIONAL PARK

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLVI, Issue 107, 6 April 1926, Page 8

THE NATIONAL PARK

VISITORS FROM PALMERSTON NORTH. BRIEF BUT ENJOYABLE STAY. Tho beauties of the National Park and the love of mountaineering attract many New Zealanders to that region at various periods of tho year, and the Easter holiday period invariably finds many speding their vacation among the beauties of nature which there run riot. For tho past year or two members of tho local Y.M.C.A. have made their way. there, and a party of six again pursued such programme this Easter. Departing from Palmerston North at 11.30 o’clock on Thursday evening, they attained their jumping-off ground at 5 a.m. tho following morning. Being greeted at Ohakune with heavy misty rain and altogether uninviting conditions, tho trek to the Mountain House was delayed .till 10 a.m., at which hour they braved the elements and set out on the strenuous tramp. While tho distance to bo negotiated over this route is but some nine milqs, in cannot be measured by mere distance, for tho difficulties to be encountered cn route are manifold, and tho tramper is nrado to realise every yard of the journey. Set amid the native bush practically undisturbed, the track, winch is little more than a bridle path, winds its way through swamp and bracken where the tramper is repeatedly faced with the danger of being bogged, although some attempt has been made towards improving the worst places by tho laying down of saplings in the form of a duckboard. Realising what lay in front of them, tho local party had undergone a course of training in preparation, and the value of such preparedness was evidenced very early on tho journey, for several parties who had ventured forth ahead of them were overtaken and left in the rear painfully toiling their way campwards. It was necessary on arrival at their headquarters to spend the balance of tho day drying out their sodden clothing and mapping out their programme.

Next morning they were early afield, it being their intention to visit Ruapehu Peak via Tlie Snake. Following upon the recent appearance of the sun, which had proved sufficient to melt much of the snow in tho lower reaches, the task of upward climbing was attended with no little difficulty, tho glaciers being but a glassy surface of ico which furnished little footing. Their efforts were finally rewarded, the top being reached at 2.15 p.m., and following a spell to view the panorama which was spread out before them the young mountaineers set about their return journey, which was accomplished without mishap, ’oamp being reached in time for tea, which was most welcome, tlie unusual exercise in the brisk mountain air developing very lieartv appetites. Sunday morning broke wet, but as the day advanced the conditions improved and a walk over a scoria field was undertaken in the direction of the Sulphur Stream. A full half-day being required to carry through the full programme, such was impossible, and the trampers wended their way to tho valley of tho stream, where a beuutiful scene was unfolded, for the stream made its way through dense bush, dropping downwards over a series of waterfalls to Lake Surprise. Looking upwards, sheer cliffs, with bluffs closely resembling canyons, gawhero stream downwards, further faced tho gazers. Following tho Manfalls were encountered, while rearing their snow white heads in the distance were Mt._ Ruapehu, Pare-te-ai-tonga and Girdle Stone peaks. At the lower end of the basin there was a drop of approximately 100 feet, and the sight of the water failing from such a height presented a pretty picture, to which tho green background of native bush gavo an enhanced effect and one which strongly impressed tho visitors. Monday morning at 10.15 o’clock saw the Pahnerstonians setting out for tho railway and civilisation, the trek on this occasion being accomplished in tho good time of three hours. En route tho party encountered a holiday-maker who had been making tho trip on horseback and upon whom misfortune) had fallen for, in negotiating one of the treacherous places, tho animal had slipped in tho mud and fallen over the bank into a gully below. Its extraction from its unenviable position occupied tlie best part of an hour, the foot trampers leeling that, after all, despite the physical strain required, they were following the safer mode of transport. Ohakune was left behind at 4 p.m., and five hours later they wero back again in Palmerston North after a brief hut very pleasant vacation.