SPORT IN THE SNOW.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19403, 11 August 1926, Page 10

SPORT IN THE SNOW.

NATIONAL PARK POPULAR, LARGE NUMBER OF VISITORS. VICE-REGAL > PARTY PLANNED. Conditions at the Tongarirq National Park are now ideal for (ill forms of winter sports. During the past few days snow has fallen in liberal quantities and it covers the ground in the vicinity of tho Wakapapa huts to a depth of 3ft. Exhilarating amusement may bo obtained with skis within a quarter of a mile of tho cottages. Few people have so far taken advtange of the ideal conditions prevailing, but the next week or two will see an invasion of tourists and holiday-makers from all parts of the Dominion. They will include Her' Excellency Lady Alice I orgusson and a Vice-regal party, and a party of about 16 Auckland girls. Later, the members of the Ruapehu Ski Club will hold their annual winter sports on the slopes of the mountain. . So great will be the demand foi' accommodation that the social and dance hall will have to be used for sleeping room. This building has only been erected since Christmas and has been a boou to visitors during the summer and winter evenings. Temporary beds will bo provided in order to accommodate those people who cannot be allotted bunks in the huts. Numbers of would-be mountaineers have been advised by the ranger, Mr. A. Cowling, that all accommodation has been fully booked during the next two or three weeks. Most of these people have therefore postponed their visits until next month, but others have elected to take up their abode at the Ohakune and Mangatepopo huts, rather than wait for the position to ease at Whakapapa.