A TRIP TO NORTH IGMONT MOUNTAIN HOUSE.

Otago Witness, Issue 2924, 30 March 1910, Page 84

A TRIP TO NORTH IGMONT MOUNTAIN HOUSE.

On the sth of last month a party of 11 of -us —seven young men and four grrls—set out for the North Egmont Mountain House. We left Inglcwood at 11 o'clock on Saturday night, and had a drive of 14 miles, four of which are through the mountain, reserve bush. When about a mile of the bush had bsen passed the party were divided into lots, which were to take it in turns of walking for 15 minutes each. I was not to get out, as I was one of the party that was going to climb', but I was glad to get cut for a little to stretch my legs. There were six cf us in a Courtland buggy, three in one gig, and two in the other. If yov. could only have been there to listen to the noise we made! We sang hymns, songs, and comic songs in, turn till ws~ were all so hoarse that we could hardly speak. There was a brake load just behind us from Waitara, and they were making a great noise, too. We arrived at the Mountain House at about" 2.30 on Sunday morning. • After we had seen to our provisions we all were lounging about the verandah waiting till we got some breakfast. It was a pretty sight to see all the towns down below us lit up. The moon was shining by this time, and here and there, where there was a cloud of mist, the moon shone upon it, making it indeed "a cloud with a silver lining.'' We managed to discover some swings, so we put in some of our time on them. When we had breakfast ready everyone was ready to do it, full justice. Until you get up there you can have no idea of the appetite the cool, sharp air gives you! Well, \ve got breakfast over, and a bit of lunch to take with us. and then those who were going to cliuab—five of us in number—set oft. There* were my brother, two of my old schoolmates and a churn l of theirs, and myself. I was the only girl among them. Two parties had left the house about half an . hour or more before us. We overtook one party about halfway through the bush. As we ascended higher and higher the tree 3 became very stunted • and scrubby. Soon after leaving the bush we got into a thick .mist, and could not see any distance ahead of us. Presently wo met a party of four who had left the house at 1 >'clock in the morning. When we reached what is known as Humphrey's Castle we overtook the second party that started before us. There are a few rocks amd some moss to pass, and then comes the scoria—the dreadful scoria, which makes one think of what the boy told the schoolmaster when he was late. The school was on a hill, and there had just been a fall of snow, eo when asked why he was late he said, "For every step I took I slipped back two, sir." The scoria is much, like that, too, I think. Well, it's a truo saying that "an end comes to all things," and in time the end of the scoria came, too. One* of the boys gavo me his hand in plac©3 and helped me along. I began to feel very weak, Slid was longing for a drink; but no such luxury! We had just to peg away. The rocks have next to be traversed, and then you reach the snow. I can assure you it was welcome, too. We ate snow or ice till our throats were sore. It is soma little distance to the trig station from Vhe snow. I felt more like staying where I was instead of going on. At last we reached the trig, and sat down for a good rest and to finish our lunch. There were two or three on the top when we got there. j-Jefore we left there were 16 of us on the top, and I was the only girl among all those men. I was a bit shy at first, but after we had' all exchanged greetings it was not so bad. It was then 8.30. We left at 8.45 again for the house. It is easy -work coming back. You put your stick down and take a jump, repeating it all the way down the scoria. One of the boys lost a part of his boot. The side cams right out of it, and he Tiad to go the rest of the way with his foot half in and half out. Coining back the fog again enveloped us. Just below the castle we had to look about a bit for the ridge we came up on. "We gathered a few mountain daisies-, primroses, violets —which, by the way, is against the rules,—and then continued' our journey. We reached the house at 11.30, and had a hearty luncheon, after which we went down to the Natoroa Gorge, where .we had our photographs taken. The one of the whole group was spoiled, and I have not seen the others yet. We spent the greater part of the afternoon down in the gorge. The fog lifted completely in the afternoon, and we got a beautiful view of the great gullies on ; the mountain side. When we were climbing we were in fog all the way till we reached the crocks at the top, when the fog cleared off a little. But, Dot I never saw anything so beautiful as the'whole of the North Island was when under the fog. The whole island appeared to be covered, and the sun shining down upon it, and the sea sparkling all round and ibeyond it was a sight the like of which! suppose I shall never see a.gain.. Ihe Southern Alps were also plainly visible. There is no" snow on the mountain save in the crater. Mount Tongariro could be ■plainly seen emitting huge black columns of smoke. One thing we missed on account of the dense fog was the rising of the sun. About 6 o'clock in the evening we lelt the Mountain House for home, one and all thoroughly tired out, but having spent one of the never-to-be-forgotten days of our lives. 'The drive down through the bush is simply lovely No one is allowed to take ferns or anything from the bush, and so it is kept in its natural state. arrived,, home at 7 30 p.m., and then had some more tea All went early to bed, and considering that we hadn't had any sleep from Friday night, that waa not to be wondered at. I was not the slightest bit stiff, but had two skinned

* -toes. Ths >ot!ief c!ktt%e?s' were fcliff for about three days after. Well, I must finish up now, as time is waning and "Perriwinkie's coomin' dooa the loom.'' MOUNTAIN BELLE.