MOUNT LA PEROUSE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21580, 27 February 1932, Page 19

MOUNT LA PEROUSE

ASCENDED BY DUNEDIN PARTY WONDERFUL VIEW OBTAINED. (Special to Daily Times.) WAIHO GORGE, February 26. A party consisting of Miss L. Roberts, Miss A. Stevenson, and. Miss M. Scott, (of Duhedin), Mr J. Mitchell (of Christchurch), and Mr W. Fraser (of Otira), accompanied by Guides Alex Graham and Tom Sherran, of the Franz Josef Glacier, made the ascent of Mount La Perouse on Tuesday. The party left the Franz Josef Glacier Hotel on February 13, and proceeded to the Cook River, They camped the first night above the junction of the Balfour with the Cook River, arid afterwards worked their way up to the head of the valley to the La Perouse glacier. This occupied the party 11 days owing to the rugged nature of the climbing, making it necessary to cut a track through the dense bush and scrub. On Monday, February 22, they reached their bivouac and finally on Tuesday, February 23, they made the successful ascent 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. Mount Cook and Mount Tasman were particularly grand, being just across the valley of the Hooker and the La Perouse respectively. Even Mount Aspiring, in the far south, was plainly visible. This is the second time La Perouse has been climbed from the western side, and the only time the mountain has been ascended by ladies. The first ascent by this route was accomplished on February 1, 1900, by Dr E. Teichlemann, and Rev. H. E. Newton, and Mr R. S. Low and Guide Alex Graham. On February 23 the ascent of Mount Bismark and a traverse of Mount Roon and Mount Moltke were also made by Mr R. E. Clarke, of Canterbury College, and Guide Mark Lysons.