WOMEN MOUNTAINEERS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21118, 27 February 1932, Page 10

WOMEN MOUNTAINEERS.

ASCENT OF NIT. LA PEROUSE.

PATH HACKED THROUGH BUSH.

JOURNEY TAKES ELEVEN DAYS.

[BY TELEGRAPH.— OWN correspondent.] WAIIIO GORGE. Friday.

A party consisting of Miss L. Roberts, Misa A. Stevenson and Miss M. Scott, of Dunedin, Mr. J- Mitchell, of Christchurch, and Mr. W. Fraser. of Otira, accompanied by Guides Alex. Graham and Tom Sherran, of the Franz Jose Glacier, made the ascent of Mount La Perouso (10,101 ft.), on Tuesday. _ _ The party left, the Franz Josef Glacier Hotel on February 13 and proceeded to the Cook River, camping the first night above (be junction of the Balfour an Cook Rivers, and afterwards working their way up the head of the valley to the La Perouse Glacier. This journey occupied the party 11 days, as owing to the rugged nature of the climbing a. trackhad to be cut through dense bush and scrub. The party reached its bivouac last Monday, and the following day mado a successful ascent of T.a. Peiouse by the western arete in glorious weather, reaching the summit at 2.30 p.m. Wonderful views were obtained of the high mountains and surrounding country. Mounts Cook and Tasman were particularly grand, lying just across the valleys of the. Hooker and La Perouso respectively. Even Mount Aspiring in the far south was plainly visible. This is the second lime La Perouso has been climbed from the western side and the only time the mountain lias been ascended by ladies. The first ascent by this route was accomplished on lebruary ] 1906, by Dr. E. Teichlemann, the Rev. 11. E. Newton, and Mr. R- S. Low, together with Guide Alex. Graham. On Tuesday the ascent of Mount Bismarck-(8563ft.) and the traverse of Mounts Roon and Moltke were made byMr. R. E. Clark, of Canterbury College, and Guide Mark Lysons.