THE UPPER RANGITATA.

Otago Witness, Issue 2921, 9 March 1910, Page 25

THE UPPER RANGITATA.

TOPOGRAPHICAL DISCOVERIES. " SPLENDID ALPINE DISTRICT." IFrom Our Own Correspondent.) WELLINGTON, March 6. A letter which I have just received from the Upper Rangitata contains some interesting, information about topographic cal discoveries among the mountains and glaciers of that district. A party which consisted of Miss Dennistoun., Miss Julius, Mr J. R. Dennistoun, Mr Laurence 'Earls (a member of the Alpine Club), Mr Jaclt Clarke, and two porters (Turton and Evans) outfitted at Peel Forest, and left on Monday, February 21. The party stayed a night at Mesopotamia Station, and a night at Macrae's Homestead, and on the 23rd pitched camp at the forks of the Clyde. Operations were limited to the Froude Range, on which Mr Dennistoun and Mr. Earle climbed a small peak to reconnoitre. There is a fine peak at the head of the north branch, but it is not named on the map. Messrs Earle and Dennistoun, with Clarke, climbed int» the col to the east. of it, and ascended it by its eastern rock (arete) in eight nours from the camp. From the co: and the peak itself they were able.to makemost import ant topographical discoveries. The climbers found themselves practically at the head of ' the Lyell Glacier, and noted that M'Coy Peak appeared to be the point that Mr Speight, in his Rakaia expedition, took for Mount Tyndall, which peak the party saw a considerable distance to the south-west. On the west of M'Coy Peak is a col leading from the Lyell into the head of the most northerly branch of the glacier system of the main Clyde. Only a very small portion of the cirque which closes the .bead of the Lyell '* actually on the divide. This portion is a low wall, showing no true col. The view in all directions was superb. MountLambert was a splendid object, and Mount Cook and • the other great peaks of th.» main group stood out splendidly. The weather looking bad, the party returned to the Stron Scrubie Hut, and the ladies, with Turton, returned to civilisation. Messrs Ea,rle and Dennistoun, with Clarke, intended to proceed up the Haveiock to try and make further ascents and observations of the topography of that fin« glacier system. The oartv got word that Dr Teichelman, the well-known WestCoast climber, was in the same district to attempt the ascent of Mount Arrowsmith. My correspondent (who is an experienced climber and an excellent judrre) says this is a most magnificent alpine trict, and quite worthy of exploration.