TRIP TO MOUNT ASPIRING.

Otago Witness, Issue 3877, 3 July 1928, Page 75

TRIP TO MOUNT ASPIRING.

A lecture illustrated by means of lantern slides was given by Mr Eric Miller in the Overseas Club room on Wednesday evening before a fairly large audience. The lecture was given- under the auspices of the Otagb Tramping Club, and was the outcome of a trip made by a party to Mount Aspiring in December last. Mount Aspiring, it may be mentioned, is the highest mountain in Otago, and is situated hear Lake Wanaka. The lantern slides shown were exceedingly interesting, and were remarkably fine examples of photography. In the course of some preliminary remarks Mr Miller said the lecture was called “ MounP Aspiring ” because the slides dealt with that mountain and with the country for eight or ten miles around it. These he had - worked in with the slides of Mount Aspiring. Mountaineering was just a fine rollicking holiday, pictures had been taken by a camera belonging to one of the party that made the trip. The lantern and the screen used also belonged to one of the party. He did not intend to give the equipment needed- on an expedition of this kind—it was sufficient to say that once a party set out it became lost to civilisation. No shops were to be found —not even a barbed wire fence. He had taken everything he could think of, and at the last stopping place left behind the tin opener. When he and his party returned to the place at which it was left the tin opener was not there. As it was they had to open the tins with an axe. On this particular occasion they had set out to climb Mount Aspiring. They had tried it two years previously, but the time at their disposal was too short, and the result was that they had got to within only three hours’ journey of the top. Then they weie not sufficiently well equipped to stand up against the hail storms, and they found it impossible to make the ascent. Mr . Miller then proceeded to gne an outline of the articles required in such an undertaking, and said that the district was noted for its storms, n the preesnt state of things a party could not get far into the north-west, but conditions would improve, and there would be better facilities. Once through tle bush the worst of the journey was over. J

ie conclusion of the lecture Mr .. filler was heartily thanked for his entertainment.