STRATFORD MOUNTAIN CLUB

Stratford Evening Post, Volume II, Issue 90, 9 November 1932, Page 4

STRATFORD MOUNTAIN CLUB

WEEK-END ACTIVITIES ?' ~<, - { Miss N. Pemberthy, Messrs. J.'Hover, .1. L. Osborne and J. Lucas left for the mountain on Sunday morning. The weather early was not all it might have been, but during the day it Improved and the four spent a pleasant lazy day rambling about the lower slopes. In the late afternoon, Messrs Osborne and Lucas climbed to Fantham Peak, with the intention of spending the night in Svme Hut, and Miss Pemberthy and Mr. Cover returned to Stratford. Meanwhile, an independent party, consisting of Miss J. Beale, and Messrs. T. Carryer, F. Addis and Brian McMillan had left Stratford by car, also with the intention of spending the night in the hut, and so enjoying a good day’s ski-ing on the Monday, which promised to be fine. In order to find the shorter way to Fantham Peak, two took the Curtis Ridge route and two the Kapuni routs, and both parties arrived almost simultaneously at Syme Hut, two and ahalf hours after leaving Stratford House. They found members of the Mount Egmont Alpine Club in residence, and later on Messrs. Osborne and Lucas made their appearance. While the inevitable stew for dinner was being prepared, the Stratford members spent some time ski-ing in the vicinity of the hut. At S p.m. dinner was served and Mr Addis flashed Stratford with magnesium ribbon. Several people saw the flashes, which occurred at 8, 8.30 and 9 p.m., and so must be removed the doubt expressed sometimes in Stratford that Syme Hu: can be seen from the town. The magnesium ribbon wns lit at the door of the hut and the whole of the town of Stratford was visible in a gap between tw r o of the peaks of Fantham Peak. Monday dawned cloudless and windless and before breakfast the energetic Stratford members were out on skis. Mr. A. W. White arrived at the hut at 8.15 a.m.. After breakfast everyone headed for Rangitoto Flat, where ski-ing conditions w r ere ideal, and there a most profitable day was spent by everyone. After lunch Messrs Osborne and Lucas, accompanied by Mr. G. Madgewick, of the Egmont Alpine Club, set off to make the ascent of Egmont. They soon encountered ice, and when only about 100 feet below the tip of the crater, "were forced to turn back, as the ice had become very hard and there was no rope in the party. During the afternoon Misses N and V. Carryer and Messrs G. Carryer and C, G. McCormack arrived on Fantham Peak and managed to get in a little ski-ing. At 5 p.m. the last of the Stratford Mountain Club party was on its w r ay down Fantham Peak, en route for Stratford House via the Kapuni-Curtis Ridge track. They arrived into the midst of the Plateau road opening procession and walked down the track to the house passing the stream of cars making the upward journey.