TRAIL FOR HIKERS

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18068, 20 April 1933, Page 7

TRAIL FOR HIKERS

CHAIN OF HOSTELS FINE SCENIC TRAMP The glories of the Arthur’s Pass mountain region and the scenic beauty and romance of portion of the historic West Coast have been opened to trampers through, a chain of hostels from Cass to Kiuuara, says the Christchurch fatar. Arrangements for the hostels have been made by the Youth Hostel Association, an organisation set up by the combined tramping clubs. A trip along the chain of hostels has just been made by Miss Cora Wilding, honorary organising secretary the association. She returned to Christchurch full of enthusiasm for the new project. She states that .hikers can leave tho train at Cass and travel the eight miles to llealey through magnificent country and riverbed. There is a hostel at Bealey, where a charge of one shilling is made for conveyance across tho Waimakariri River. Some trampers could cover the 16 miles from Bealey to Otira in one day, while those less ambitious could break tho journey at Arthur s Pass.

Though the road through the Otira Gorge is blocked to wheeled traffic, there is a good walking track, according to Miss Wilding. From Otira the trail of hostels leads to Jacksons, lnchboimie, and then on to Mitchells, in the midst of the magnificent scenery and good bathing of Lake Brunner. The bellbirds and the tuis had a wonderful song for Miss Wilding as she travelled through the hush on the way to Greenstone, the site of the first discovery of payable gold, and then on to Kumara. From there the return trip can he made to Jacksons via Wainini, a distance of 23 miles, but which is often very much shortened to tho traveller by a kindly lift on a timber lorry. Blankets and food are supplied at the hostels, where a uniform charge of Is for each meal and bed is made. Travellers aro not permitted to stay at / any one hostel longer than necessary, and arrangements for accommodation must be made beforehand.