ALPINE TRAVELLING.

Otago Witness, Issue 1834, 14 January 1887, Page 16

ALPINE TRAVELLING.

THE ASCENT OP MOUNT EARNSLAW.

(Fbom OtTB Own Cobbespondbnt.)

Queenstown, January 10. Messrs M. Ross and Norman Grant, of Ounedin, with Mr Thomas Grant, of Wellington, have just reached here after a most successful trip to the glaciers at the head of Mount Earnslaw. The party left Glenorchy on Thursday morning with a tent and three days' provisions, riding 22 miles up the Rees river. At this point, some distance above the Lennox Falls, the horses were sent back, and the real hard work of the expedition was commenced. The bush line was reached at 6 a.m., and the first camp made just below the Lennox glacier. All night long the roar of falling ice was heard, and the sight from the camp was very fine. Next morning, after breakfasting off Maori hen and kea, a start was made for the unexplored country to the west of Hunter's Gorge, the route being an extremely difficult one. Two fine waterfalls were discovered on the way. Soon after noon the last precipice was conquered, and a halt was called for dinner, tea haying to be made from melted snow. Leaving the swags at this camp, the party started with a view of finding a way over to the other side of Earnslaw, but soon found communication completely cut off by a great rocky barrier of considerable height. To the right of the northern spur of Earnelaw a large gorge was discovered, and also a hitherto unknown glacier. The view from this point was indescribably grand, no fewer than six glaciers being within sight, two of these being very near at hand. While traversing the gorge the party had the good fortune to witness an avalanche, which fell into the moraine at the foot of one of the An b ted glaciers. The lateral moraine of the great glacier was then traversed for about a mile, and steps being cut cp a steep coiloi?, a height of about 800 ft was attained. Near this pofoit tfe nraoh

prised" edelweiss was found, and" a number of good, specimens secured.- By crossing - one or two enowalopes and glissading down others, the' upper part of the glacier was reached and traversed in perfect safety for some distance, a good view having been obtained of the crevices, some of them hundreds of feet deep. A start was then made on the return journey, and the farst camp was reached about dark. The tent having been pitched, tea was made and everything made comfortable for the night. Early next morning a start was made for Glenorchy, and the walk of 30 miles' was accomplished in the one day. Some difficulty* was experienced in scaling ene or two rocky precipices in the bush, bat these 'were got over safely with the aid of the rope. The trip altogether,' though involving a lot of very hard work, was a most successful and thoroughly enjoyable one. The party had to go without a gujda, as Mr Birley's servioes were not available. -