ASCENT OF MOUNT NGAURUHOE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 13491, 18 May 1907, Page 5

ASCENT OF MOUNT NGAURUHOE.

GREAT ACTIVITY IN THE

CRATER.

EVIDENCES OF A BIG BLOW-OUT.

fBT TELEGRAPH.—SPECIAt COBKESroj? DENT.]

•'■ '\ : '\f : '" : \ Waioubu, Friday. ,: We succeeded in ascending the '.volcano, of JSgauruhoe on; Wednesday, under adverse conditions, the mountain' being clothed with snow, and the rocks, glassed with ice.

A thousand feet from the '. summit we were struck by a bitterly" cold gale from the south-east, the wind * being so strong that we had frequently to hold on to the slope with our ice axes.

Near the summit, which, was not reached till one p.m., it-became- necessary to cut steps in .the frozen slope, and the ascent was made,more difficult by driving clouds and great volumes of sulphurous .steam from the volcano itself.

: The members of the party succeeded- in entering the crater, and spent an hour and a-half there photographing and closely examining it in glimpses of sunshine,that: occasionally shot through the clouds of steam and driving mists.

, ' The cold was intense, but the scene was weirdly - ; fascinating. Occasionally the steam was so dense that objects only 10 or 12 yards distant were obscured. .

In endeavouring to- penetrate to the scene of the greatest activity, I was twice driven back by the poisonous ' and almost overpowering fumes that came from the ! throat of the volcano. It, was evident j that there had been 'a, tremendous blowout, or perhaps a: series of explosions, in the crater, and that great changes had taken ; place since my visit in 1898. ": The crater is now ascene of great activity. The party reached camp' safely after an extremely interesting and "Somewhat adventurous climb.