THE GODLEY GLACIERS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3352, 12 June 1918, Page 47

THE GODLEY GLACIERS.

IN THE HEART OF THE SOUTHERN ALPS. By T. A. Fletcheh. (See Illustrated Pages.) Tho Godlcy Glaciers lie away at the head of the Godlcy River, which flows into Lake Tekapo, and right in the heart of the Southern Alps, north of the Mount Cook district Incidentally, it may be mentioned that the Godlcy commemorated is John Robert Godley, promoter and first practical ruler and guide of Canterbury settlement. The glaciers have rarely been visited, and are practically unexplored. None of tho peaks on tho Main Divide has been climbed, and they must provide grcat_ sport for New Zealand's mountain-climbers in tho near future.

There are four glaciers of considerable size—the Godley, eight miles long and three miles wide, and the Classen, six miles long and one milo wide, being the largest. These two glaciers—the former flowing south and the latter north —almost meet at their terminal faces, as will be seen in the panorama from the river bed of the Godley on our illustrated pages, tho Classen being on the left and tho Godlcy on the right, a spur _ running down from Mount Moffett sepxrating tho two. The other two glaciers —the Grey and the Maud—are tributaries of the Godley, and flow into it on its western side. The Grey flows into it about two miles from its terminal face, and the Maud about a mile, further up. This district was visited last Christmas, by a party of three New Zealand climbers —Messrs W. A. Kennedy and E. R. Williams, of Christchurch, and Mr T. A. Fletcher, of Cheviot. Unfortunately, very bad weather was encountered,, and only three peaks were climbed—Mounts Sibbald and Gordon and Panorama Peak, all for the first time.

Mount Sibbald is the second highest peak in the district, and is over 91C0ft in height, but is not situated on the Main Divide. It was the highest unclimbed peak in the district, Mount D'Archiac, the highest (9279 ft), also just off the Main Divide, having been climbed the season before the war by tho late Lieutenant Dennistoun, who has since died in Germany from burns received when his aeroplane w,as shot down in flames abovo the German lines. This peak was conquered after a long and arduous climb, though no very great difficulties were encountered. Mount Gordon and Panorama Peak, the other two peaks climbed, guard the entrance to the Grey Glacier. Both were previously unnamed and unclimbed. Panorama Peak is situated at the end of the spur running down from Mount Moffett, and separating the Godley from the_ Classen. It was so named because it is the finest viewpoint in the district, commanding an uninterrupted view of all four glaciers. Mount Gordon was named in honour of a lady well known in Dunedin. To reach this district the Mount Cook road is followed as far as Lake Tekapo. 26 m.ile3 out of Fairlie. Hero a road branches off up the lake on the right-hand side, and leads up to Lilybank Station, 26 miles further on. A motor can go all 'tho way to the station provided that the rivers are not in flood. Just before reaching Lilybank the Macaulay River has to be crossed, and this may pause trouble if there Is a little fresh on.

The rest of the distance, about 19 miles, has to be done on horseback or on foot. Eight miles further up is an iron hut, but aftsr that the traveller must carry his own roof with him. It is hoped that after the war the Government will erect a hut in this locality which can be reached in a day's journey from he Malte Brun hut on the Tasman Glacier. On the left, as we go up the river, is the Licbig Range, the chief peaks visible being Conrad, King, Richmond, and Acland.

The glaciers are very of the Canterbury glaciers, being all very heavily encumbered with moraines. They are in retreat, and are at the present time half a mile shorter than shown on the present survey map. The Grey has a remarkably fine ice-fall as it turns round Mount Gordon, and descends quickly into ■'he Godley. The- valley walls nr~ verv precipitous., and some of the cliffs are noarly 3000 ft in height. Down these magnificent avalanches hurl themselves on to the glacier below. The Godley takes its rise near Mounts Pvramus and D'Archiac. its general direction being sou'th. On its western side are the Alos. and across the°e am some low nnss n s load'ng down into the tributaries of tbe Wataroa. The best known of those is fl-,r> Sealev Pass, which has b°en used on fpvoral occasions. The bed of the srlaeier is fairly even, so the ice frovideq very fair travelling. It- is one of 'th« widest of our erlacfors. The last two of its surface arc eonroletelv covered w : th moraine. Just at the junction of the Maud there is a considerable pressure and unhoaval. and tb« ice is in consequence ve>v broken. Th" ifp-nlifFs at the terminal face are aboii' 2<Wt in heighr. and out of a hncre care rushes the "swirling, roaring, nvlk-white ■river. This is joined bv thn stream from the Ckssen and another mountain torrent known as the Fitzgerald, and 'they form th<3 Godley River.