MOUNTAIN ASCENTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 21049, 7 December 1931, Page 13

MOUNTAIN ASCENTS.

Sir, —"Kapanga," in his interesting, informative letter, published on December 3, mentions tho ascent of Ruapehu by Mr. and Mrs. George Beetham and party in 1892. This has already been noted, but as no new ground was covered it was not recorded in our list. On the same trip to the mountains Ngauruhoe was ascended (for the first time by a woman), and this has been listed (seo letter published 12/11/31). "Kapanga," in his original letter, says Beetham and Maxwell climbed To Ileuheu in 1879. Hill (who probably had the narrative first hand}, in several places, says tho party climbed from the south and that they ascended the south summit peak of Ruapehu, then called Paretaitonga, but now known as Ruapehu. In ono of his art icles ''Hill calls the highest part of the south peak Beetham's Peak, and a lower point on the same peak Maxwell's Peak. In Maxwell's account, he says they followed tho great southern spur from the summit till they found themselves on the lip of a great oval crater. It would seem, therefore, that they must have been on the south peak and, if so, they anticipated Professor Park by six years. The quotation that "from the highest point reached the outline of the crater of Ngauruhoe looked quite dwarfed" apparently refers to the first ascent, which was made on tho ridge between tho Waikato and Wangaehu Rivers tho previous year, whon they turned back shortly after reaching the snow-line. The crater of Ngauruhoe cannot be seen from tho south or highest peak. We appreciato "Kapanga's" interest in this matter and would certainly, bo pleased to obtain for our library and records any descriptive matter that may bo available. The Alpine Spouts Club.