TRAMP BY YOUTHS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19550, 1 February 1927, Page 8

TRAMP BY YOUTHS.

JOURNEY OF 1200 MILES. CIRCUIT OF NORTH ISLAND. A circuit of the North Island on foot should be completed this week by three medical students of the Dunedin University, Messrs. B. Furkert, F, P. Furkert and C. J. C. Britton. The trio, one of them only 16 years of age, has spent over six weeks on the road, covering 1200 miles, occasional lifts from motorists making it possible to average about 37 miles a day. The party started from Wellington before Christmas with packs weighing 451b. but subsequent experience showed that some of'the gear was superfluous, and the burden was reduced to less than 301b. During" a trying climb at the National Park each boy carried 471b. The trio had determined to be independent of orthodox shelter and when a disused shed was not available for the night they slept under trees. From Wellington the party tramped through Wanganui, Kaetihi and Horopito. Climbing Mount Ruapehu, they descended to the Whakapapa huts and commenced an ascent of Ngauruhoe from Sir James Gunson's cottage. Mount Tongariro was surmounted and the party then followed the road around Lake Roto Aira to Tokaanu, Taupo and Rotorua. At Rotorua one of the youths sustained an injury to the shoulder and it was thought best to travel to Auckland by train to enable him to receive attention at the Auckland Hospital. After a few days in the city the trio took their departure for the North by the East Coast Road and they passed through Whangarei, Russell and Awanui. During this part of the trip rain fell almost daily and frequently the trampers were soaked to the skin. They adopted the hardy policy of "keep moving" until their clothes dried, and there were no ill effects. The nights wer usually spent in abandoned gumdiggers* huts/but on three occasions the adventurers slept under bushes. Penetrating far North they passed through Te Kao and Paerenga. The tramp to the North Cape was not devoid of excitement. The party left Tom Bowling's Bay at 7' p.m. and encountered a heavy fog, and the atmosphere became so thick that eventually all were scrambling on their hands and knees. The destination was reached shortly after 10 p.m. After visiting Spirits Bay, Cape Maria Van Diemen, the three travellers again turned south along the Ninety Mile Beach, and they passed through Ahipara, Kohukohu and Rawene, to the West Coast Beach. From Donnelly's Crossing they visited the Trounson Kauri Park and returned to Auckland via Dargaville and Helensville. The Great South Road through Hamilton was followed on the return to Wellington. Mr. R. E. Champtaloup, service officer of the Auckland Automobile Association, overtook the trampers and gave them a lift as far as Te Kuiti. When he last saw them on Saturday morning they were swinging along the road with an energy which should land them in Wellington before another week has passed.