ARDUOUS JOURNEY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22344, 15 February 1936, Page 12

ARDUOUS JOURNEY

HUNTERS' ADVENTURES WEST COAST FIORDLAND LAKE CROSSED ON RAFT [by telegbaph—press association] INVERCAHGILL, Friday Bligh Sound, in the West Coast fiordland, is separated from George Sound by a neck of land about five miles wide. It took two men fi%e days and four nights to cross from one sound to the other. To accomplish this they had to build a raft and paddle the length of Lake Alice and walk along precipitous gorges in a dense fog. Mr. E. J. Herrick, of Hastings, widely known as a successful moose and wapiti hunter, and his guide, Mr. J. Muir, were the adventurers. They joined H.M.S. Wellington at Wellington, and on Tuesday, February 4, were landed at the Wild Native Rh-er at .the head of Bligh Sound. Their intention was to make their way to George by way of the Henry Saddle, rejoining the ship on the Saturday. They travelled along the Wild Native River until they reached a tributary branching to the right, and followed this up. When darkness fell they made camp a height of 3000 ft. Next morning, in a thick fog, they walked along the top of the range to the head of tUe Worsley, where they camped at 5000 ft. A Howling Gale In search of moose and wapiti Mr. Herrick has spent many unpleasant nights on the heights of the fiordland, but this was the worst in his experience. It was blowing a howling gale ajid was raining heavily. So thick was the weather next morning that it was decided to change the route, since to go by way of the Henry Saddle would almost certainly result in the sloop being missed. The alternative was to travel down the Edith River, cross Lake Alice by a raft, and emerge upon George Sound by the narrow neck connecting it with the lake. A Dangerous Voyage On reaching Lake Alice, Mr. Herrick and the guide built a raft, tying equipment which they desired to keep dry to long poles which were made to stand vertically from the deck. The pair took their courage in both hands and launched the raft on the stormtossed lake. The wind fortunately was behind them, or the progress they would have made with their crude beech paddles would have been negligible. As it was, they travelled the length of the lake, four miles, in seven hours. Several times the wind took them to the rocky shore, and one man had to stand waist deep in the water while the craft was pushed out. Safe Landing Made

When an effort was made to use the tent as a sail the wind took charge, and robbed the navigators of any semblance of control. To make matters worse, the logs grew heavier as they absorbed more water, and the raft gradually settled lower in the water; in fact, most of the journey was made with the men kneeling in the water. However, before dusk the head of the lake was reached and a safe landing was made. It was only a short distance to George Sound, where they found the Wellington awaiting them. They were late by only a quarter of an hour.