MOUNTAINEERING.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 4985, 18 April 1889, Page 3

MOUNTAINEERING.

ON THE GREAT TASMAN GLACIER. The following appears in to-day’s Christchurch Press : A party, consisting of Messrs Dixon, Johnson and Mannering, Mr Cooper (an operator from Messrs Wheeler and Sons), photographer, and two men engaged in swagging, left the Hermitage on 25th March, and after being detained at the terminal face of the Tasman glacier for a day by bad weather, reached the Ball Glacier Camp (Green’s fifth camp) on March 27th. The first few days wore spent in photographic work on the Tasman Glacier, the party camping two nights under Mount Malte Brun. From this point Messrs Dixon, Johnson, and Mannering attempted an ascent of Mount de la Beche, but were to return, owing to some difficult work on ice covered rocks being met with at an altitude of 8000 ft. On the downward trip Mr Dixon was taken ill, and some difficulty was experinced in reaching camp. A return was made to the Ball Glacier camp on the 31st. Mr Mannering and the photographer ascended to 7003 ft on the "Ball Glacier spur of Mount Cook, from whence a fine exposure of the speak was secured. Mr Mannering pressing on, reached the peak of Mount Cook range, which this spur leads up to—some 7200ftin height—and from which grand views of each side of the range are obtained. Darkness coming on, camp was only made by 10 30 p.m. after great difficulty. Some days of rest followed, during which Messrs Johnson and Mannering explored a new route to the mountain (which it is believed will ultimately prove practicable) to a height of 6300 ft. On 4th April, one of tho swagging hands coming up with supplies, with him Messrs Johnson and Mannering started for an ascent of the Ilochstctter Dome, camping tho first night under Mount de la Beche. Tho ascent from this point was accomplished after much negotiating of crevasses and bergsehrunds, and. cutting steps up difficult ice slopes, in eight hours, tho views en route being described as wonderfully magnificent. From the summit the panorama beggars all description. The Wataroa River could be traced from source to mouth, meandering through forest-clad mountains to tho sea, and to tho northward and eastward hundreds of peaks of all descriptions flanked by as many glaciers, combined to make tho scene one of the grandest panoramas. The descent was accomplished in four hours, the last hour being spent in a maze of crevasses in the turn of the glacier in a fast failing light, the party having been twelve hours on the rope without setting foot on a rock. Von Lendenfcld’s time for the mountain was, wo arc informed, twenty-seven hours.

Owing to an accident to the kerosene lamp, end Mr Dixon’s uncertain state of health, it was deemed prudent to abandon the attempt on Mount Cook, although the mountain was apparently in fine order, and the route had been carefully noted from various points of vantage. A return to ibo Hermitage was effected on April Gth.