MOUNTAIN CLIMBING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20846, 13 April 1931, Page 10

MOUNTAIN CLIMBING.

FEATS IN CANTERBURY.

PASSAGE OF THREE PASSES

HEAVY FOG ENCOUNTERED

A mountaineering trip not often attempted was tlie passage of Hie throe passes—the Harman, Whitehorn and Browning Passes—made by three members of the Canterbury Mountaineering and Tramping Club —Messrs. I. Hobius, R. Smart and T. K. Papprill— at Easier.

Tire crossing of the Browning Pass was eventful, for before the pass was reached darkness had set in. lhc climbers had decided to push on from the pass, down the Arahura River on the west coast but one. of the heavy fogs which mountaineers often encounter in that region came up, with the result that they were unable to find the gorge of tlio Arahura, and had to return to the top of the pass, where the night was spent in a small hut.

The three men went up the Bealey to the Carrington hut, at tho head of the Waimakariri River, on Saturday. An earlv start was made on Sunday, up the Taipo River and over Harmon's Pass, which leads to tho west coast. Tho -climb was then continued to the Whitehorn Pass; which took the three men back on to tho Canterbury sido of tho ranges. Tho route from this point led down the Cronin River to its junction with the Wilberforco, where tho new VVilberforce Hut is situated. At tho Wilberforco ITut two members of tho Canterbury Mountaineering Club, who had accompanied the climbers on tlio first stage of their trip—Messrs. S. D. Mears and R. Caldwell—erected a tablet in memory to tho two youths, Park and Morpeth, who lost their lives some time ago in crossing the Browning Pass. These men then returned over the Whitehorn Pass to the Carrington Hut. Messrs. Robins, Papprill and Smart continued their journey to Browning's Pass, with tho intention of going down the Arahura River to tho west coast, but were delayed by nightfall and heavy fog, They were unablo to leave tho top ot Browning's Tass until 10.30 a.m. on Monday, going down tho Arahura to tho huts on Grassy Flat. From there the going was easy to Kokatahi, which was reached on Tuesday.

On Easter Sunday Louper Peak (8165 ft.) was climbed from a- bivouac on the Whitcombe Pass by Messrs. 11. 11. Chester, It. E. Clark, B. Honour and <T. 1). I'nscoo, of the Canterbury Mountaineering Club. This is the second ascent in the history of the peak. The first ascent was made in January, 1914, by Messrs. F. A. Kitchingham, C. K. Ward and L. Gooch, of Greymonth, who reached tho'Whitcombe Pass from Ivoiterangi, via the Whitcombe River.

Tho party reached tho bivouac on the Divido by tho Louper Stream, a tributary of the Upper Rakaia River. Flooded rivers mado fording at all times difficult. Throughout the climb stormy conditions prevailed and difficulty was experienced with looso rock. The summit was reached at 1.30 p.m. and a comprehensive view was obtained of the Lyell and Ramsay Glaciers, with the fine peaks of Mounts Westland, Ramsay, Whitcombe, Reel Lion and Evans showing to great advantage.