A BIG SLIDE

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVI, Issue 10560, 10 April 1920, Page 6

A BIG SLIDE

DOWN MOUNT RUAPEHU. AN AUCKLANDERS EXPERIENCE*

To be caught on an. avalanche of snow and precipitated a distance of over 800 feet down the side of Mount Ruapehu, is an experience that befell Mr L. A. Johnston, sou of the postmaster at To Awaniutu, who . has returned practically none the worse for the experience, except that at present he is suffering from severe cuts and .bruises,., on both arms (saws a Te Awamubu cor-, respondent). Mr Johnston states that a party of sixteen, including himself, climbed the mountain, from Wahnarino. side-. The weather was fine,- and the snow line was reached at an altitude of about 6000 feet. , It was suggested -that the party should rope to provide against » precipitous glissade, on the trcacheroui ice, but this was not done. A further height was reached, when suddenly, without warning, a snowface of somf twenty acres broke loose. ~' , v .. .. Mr Johnston,, wjio.. was at -the rear... of the party, was inside the danger area, and he was swiftly carried away, to the honor of his companions. Ho soon beoonie lost to sight in the drift snow further down, near basalt rocks. The frightened party immediately rush* ed down the mountain side, prepared ; for the worst, but, after a descent -of ( about 800 feet, Mr Johnston was found,, lying near some jagged rocks, with , wounds on his arms.. He says he barely escaped being dashed to pieces pn rocks near the snowline. Strangely enough, about four years ago. a climber was dashed to pieces almost in th' same spot. -