STORM IN MOUNTAINS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20841, 7 April 1931, Page 12

STORM IN MOUNTAINS.

EXPERIENCE OF TRAMPERS. HOWLING GALE AND RAIN. . A party of nine members of the Wairarapa. Tramping Club who returned to Masterton on Saturday encountered very heavy weather in the Tararua Ranges during the week-end storm. The party had intended crossing the range to Otaki by way of the Mount Hector track, but progress was impossible in the face of the conditions. After travelling until late afternoon on Friday, the party found that a small stream below the Tauherenikau Hut, whoro it was intended to spend the night, had developed into a raging torrent which it was impossible to cross eveiv by felling a tree. The party was accordingly forced to retrace its steps to the tourist hut, near Woodside, which was reached shortly after darkness set in. A howling gale blew in the ranges all day Friday, while heavy rain fell continuously. The party found travelling on the exposed ridges about Mount Reeves extremely difficult, and they were blown off their feet time after time. All the mountain streams were raging torrents, while the track itself was kneedeep in water in places. The Waiohine Ili ver broke its banks even in the upper reaches. A deer stalker who returned with the party described the conditions as the worst lio had experienced in his 25 years' experience of the Tararuas. Most of the water responsible for (he heavy flooding of the U'airarapa rivers came from the ranges, as the rainfall in the low country was light in places", and nowhere was extraordinary.