NEW ZEALAND ALPS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21132, 15 March 1932, Page 6

NEW ZEALAND ALPS.

COMPARISON WITH SWISS. HARDER CLIMBS PROVIDED. STARTING AT LOWER ALTITUDE. Climbing in New Zealand is a greater test of endurance than in Switzerland, said Sir William Ellis, an old member of the Alpine Club, London, with experience of climbing in Switzerland, when interviewed in Wellington. This was because the climbing started so much lower in this country. Sir William has just returned from a short visit, to the Hermitage, and also to the Fran/. Josef Glacier and the Fox Glacier, and although he was loath, in view of the hurried nature of this trip, to draw comparisons between the 'Alps here and the Swiss Alps, of which he had had a long experience, he felt that the reports he had read about the New Zealand Alps had not done them justice. Effort and Endurance. Although the highest peak, Mt. Cook, tras under 12,500 ft., whereas in Switzerland there were many peaks approaching 15,000 ft., that was not the true gauge of the difficulty of climbing, because in Switzerland the start was made from a much greater height than was possible in New Zealand, the extra amount of effort and endurance here being represented by the height between the hut at which the night was spent and the summit to be reached. He said that he knew no peak in Switzerland which required the same length of time as was necessary, even with a strong climbing party, for the ascent of Mt. Cook. As he was accompanied by Lady Ellis, and had only a limited time in the mountain country, serious climbing was cut of the question, but he had greatly appreciated the beauty and magnitude of the mountains, after his experience in Switzerland and in the Rocky Mountains of Canada, through which he had recently passed. Tribute to Facilities. He spoke very highly of the facilities for climbing men and women afforded at the hotels at both places h e had yisited, even for the most modest of mountaineers who had arrived without equipment, He was surprised, indeed, to find how amply such people were catered for. The equipment rooms were rather like curiosity shops, because one found everything there, and every want of any party in the way of equipment was available, whereas in Switzerland no such. facilities existed. The Need For Caution. Sir William felt that a great deal of the climbing in New Zealand, especially south of the Hermitage, was still in the nature, of pioneering work, involving hardships, great endurance, and not inconsiderable risks, and he was anxious that the younger generation taking to climbing should realise that although it is a sport of the noblest description, it cannot bo carried out without experience and prudence. The photographs he had seen on the screen, during the celebration of the fiftieth anniversary of th© first ascent of Mt. Cook in Christchurch, gave a very good idea 'of the risks. He was anxious that the opportunities afforded in the South Island for this great sport should not be abused nor prejudiced "by the taking of undue risks by budding climbers. The margin between comparative safety and real danger was represented very often by only a thin line, which could only be broadened safely by caution and experience. " Young climbers have many years of enjoyment and splendid sport in front of them," said Sir William, " and it would be unfortunate if their energy and power of endurance outran the wise spirit of caution neces■ary in such a sport as climbing."