A TRIP TO THE REMARKABLES.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13835, 23 February 1907, Page 14

A TRIP TO THE REMARKABLES.

By Oxk of run Party

A few (lays ago a party of 12 persons from An'/nvtowii, under llin gimhnee of Mr .lames While, made an attempt to reach the summit of the Remarkables. On reaching tlie Kawarau River the party were taken over in three boatloads. This river flows very swiftly, and at any time it necessitates very great c-are in rowing

When the leaky boat lwd been made fast, we left t In' banks of the river a I 6 a.m., mid after a climb of about 3000 ft made a half, to fortify the innc- man. After a short, rest, the journey was llicn continued along the bank of Boundary Creek (Ibis stream may be termed a continuous waterfall), when Lake Alia was reached. Here, to use a common phrase, the billy was boiled, and all. with voracious appetiies, partook of a most enjoyable lunch.

Lake Alta is a sheet, of water covering nearly 200 ac-res. It is 6000 ft. above sealevel; the water has a 'greenish-blue tinge, and. wiih the "Cones" as a background, prcfonls a mosl wonderful and pleasing appearance. At this place grasshonpers and lizards wore very numerous, the grasshoppers being exceedingly large. Lunch over, the journey was again resumed. But here many difficulties arose, in the form of snow slides, ele.: in fact, from the lake to the "Double Cone" (the topmost peak) is otio mass of mica schist and snow slides. The most aggravating part of Ihe whr-le day's climb is that when ono is within 400 ft of the summit a most dangerous chute has to be negotiated. This chute is about 300 ft in lengih, and varying from 2ft. 9in to 4ft in width, and a grade in many places of one in three.

On arriving at flic foot of the chute it was found to he one mass of ice from top to bottom, with only, a few inches of snow 011 its face. One can' readily imagine what a difficult iask il was to ascend further: but, nevertheless, three of the parly reached Ihe culminating point.

After spending about 20 minutes enjoying the magnificent view—for Lakes Wakalipu and Wanaka. and Mounts Cook, Earnslniv, Solio, Aspiring, and all the surrounding ranges could easily be seen,—the three started to descend; but tliey were astonished on reaching the chute to find that the steps which they bad already cut in the ico were full of frozen snow, and again a most difficult and dangerous task had to be performed in cutting the stops afresh. On regaining Ihe bottom of the rhute. which took an hour and a-quarter to descend, the three, with thankful hearts, joined the vest'of the party at Lake Alta, whero afternoon tea was ready, prior to making the final descent. Leaving the lake at, 4.30 p.m., aftd worn out with the fatigue of such a journey, tho party reached home about 10 o'clock.