SCENIC RESORTS.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXIX, Issue 10892, 5 March 1914, Page 6

SCENIC RESORTS.

MTS. RUAPEHU AND NGAURUHOE AND THEIR ENVIRONS.

(By a Recent Visitor.)

From other and older countries New Zealand la looked, upon as enjoying an enviable distinction on account of being so munificently supplied with aituost every phase of Nature’s beautiful and wonderful art. There is scarcely a county in New Zealand but cannot lay some claim to a well deserved share of this distinction 'so liberally and uniformly provided for. us; Whether it be that Nature trains our trees, forms our forests; fills our fiofds, tempers our mountains,-or works our scenic wonders, it matters little—man cannot alter—but man can enjoy. This is the description given by one of the party consisting of Messrs O, 15. Collins (Wanganui),. H. Y. Cameron and R. B. Hill (Marton), and E. F. Sandford (New South Wales), who successfully explored the-Mts of Ruapehu and Ngautuhoe and their environs a few days ago. We hear a good deal about Mt. Ruapehu and many of ns know where it is because we can see It from Marton (when we choose to look), and thus so very many can only claim a mere nodding acquaintance. What does this mountain mean to us?—it is the* centre, of the greatest National Park in the world, and its height of 9175 feet permits it to domineer over ail the other mountains in our. North Island—from its noble position. We can justly claim it as a valuable asset, not only to our immediate surroundings, but to our atiractive/oountry. Onr party cycled from Waiouru to the mountain hut, a distance of .about 25 miles—the first 19 over a continuous stretch of sandy country, bordered on one side by a sea of tussocks, on the other by the Turakina river, and backed by the glittering snowcapped peaks of Ruapehu. Incidentally it might be interesting to mention that the Government intend to improve this road with the aid of prison labour. Our party suggested that life sentenced prisoners might probable sea it completed, and also suggested that the term ot solitary confinement might. be dependent on their industry while on this long lonely plain. The mile posts appear ftr ,be miles apart, and, strange to say, the debatable and certainly questionable “3}4 miles” from the main road to the Mountain Hot—is still prominently suspended although oyolomeferes register it as to 5 miles. » The authorities in charge of sign posts must hug some hallowed recollections with this lonely white misleading post. v The Mountain Hut is prettily and conveniently nestled on the border of a patch of mountain bosh, with a good road to the door and tushing torrents handy. This corrugated iron hut„is certainly very useful, but not very ornamental, and improvements in conveniences, cooking ncensils, etc., would ba much appreciated by tourists, not forgetting the demolishing of one of the worst smoking chimneys we have experienced. Leaving at 4.30 a.m. from this hut a walk of about 7 miles up a sloping ridge brings one to the actual climbing of this magnificent mountain. The top peak can toe reached in about six hours from the mountain hut. The ascent was not hampered in any way with loose snow or glacier faces, tout the top of the mountain provided the usual spectacle of a beautiful field of snow, undisturbed and not discoloured, seasoned here and there with a few black rooky peaks, all ■'surrounding the crater lake in its centre. The descent is usually completed in about three hours and a return to the hut for rest and refreshments was timed at three o’clock.

The start to ascend. Ngauruhoe was made nest morning at the same hoar and jast before daylight. After stbmbling along inthe'dark across streams and over boulders for about half an hour daylight showed the path for easier walking. The ridge leading to the aotnal foot of this mountain is some three miles before actual climbing commences, but when climbing starts it is in earnest without doubt. The party avoided the lose scoria and followed the eastern slopes, which were as s veritable mountain of smooth rooks almost recently cooked, cleaned and hurled out by the ferocion’s mouth of this fiery monster. It wat like Jacob’s ladder and continued almost to the top. The climbing was very difficult and arduous and nearing the top the slopes in places could only negotiated oa all fours. The cautious approach to the brink of the crater enabled the party to . / n x* j T> rr \

I get a splendid and interesting view | right down into the interior of this mountain’s noisy roaring meobanI ism, and the regular snorts of steam and sulphurous clouds upwards were most convincing as to the amount of Nature’s force and heat required to manufacture the perpetual volumes of smoky clouds that leap into the air. For one’s first experience of ascending a - voicanio mountain the sensation is one to be remembered, and almost drives fear into one’s few nerves. To the more romantic mountaineer it has innumerable charms. Nowhere would it appear possible to get such a magnificent panoramic or varied view, changing so rapidly as it does when viewed from the moantain tops. From the top of Nganruhoe you can look down on quite an interminable ocean of white billowy oloudg, which stretches - out in suoh regular formation, with Kuapehu towering at your left hand high above these clouds, and Egmont far distant, piercing almost to the Heavens with I its conical shaped peaks and wrapped in cloudy cloaks. These roiling clouds are easily distinguishable from their kin, and everywhere,those huge banka of “Cumulus” clouds appeared to be suspended several thousands of feet in the air and forcibly obliterated any rainy clouds that might have made an unwelcome

appearance, 1 From the summit of Ruapabn the i view is again transposed and i Nguaruhoe’a volcanic slopes are visible through revolving clouds ana I eiumberifig mists. The sunrises from j the heights are a reward for early | rising, and here one sees “What I curious streaks do lace the severing j clouds in yonder East. '* Night’s j candles are fciurnt out and jocund day stands tip-toe on the misty mountain tops,” Altogether a trip to this unique and interesting national park is full of pleasure to any who ever care to test it. It is not even necessary to scramble up the several mountains to enjoy It, but a few days at the mountain headquarters orncot fail to prove an investment to all who visit them. Mountaineering ia an additional pleasure and most excursionist venture to reach the respective heights of Rnapehu, Nguaruhoe ' and Tongariro, and when they' accomplish this feat they read iiy pronounce it worth the credit it well deserves. In this country we have... not yet catered for professional tourists, and the enthusiastic colonial mountaineer probably hopes we never will. We do not want railways to the mountain tops, but it would be a credit to our colonists if they endeavoured to popularise these wonderful resorts and beep on equal marching terms with our visiting tourists who come from overseas to see our holiday haunts- at our own doors. Some day, no doubt, bur Government may emulate other countries and provide for week end excursions to some of | oar many interesting and wonderful f holiday resorts. We hope they will.