ASCENT OF NGAURUHOE

Taranaki Daily News, 16 March 1928, Page 9

ASCENT OF NGAURUHOE

CLIMBERS VISIT CRATER. MOUNTAIN IN ERUPTION. Taupo, March 13. The first ascent of Ngaur.uhoe since the recent activity began was made yesterday by Mr. L. I. Grange, of the New Zealand Geological Survey, and a member of his party, Mr. W. M. Jones. They reached the Mangatepopo hut on Sunday evening, from Atiamuri, the present headquarters of the members of the Geological Survey of the thermal district. The ascent was made via the western side of the cone, and the climbers reached the crater rim at Castle Rock in three hours. In the main vent in the floor of the main crater red-hot lava was visible from their vantage point on the crater lip. There was considerable noise from the vent, sharp explosive reports alternating with periods when the escaping steam and gases roared like a great safety valve. The noise gradually rose in a mighty crescendo, which made speech inaudible when the climbers were a few feet apart. The surface of the material in the vent resembled a smithy fire, with red-hot lava glowing through the cracks and fissures of the black, clinker-like surface. Now and then jets of ash-laden gas and steam resembling smoke would shoot up from the vent, the surface of which appeared to be 20ft or 30ft in diameter, while there was an almost constant stream of red-hot rocks thrown up to heights varying from 20ft to 39ft and more. Most of these fell back into the vent. EFFECTS OF RECENT ACTIVITY. During their ascent of the cone Messrs. Grange and Jones noticed many fragments of smooth scoriaceous rock, some of considerable size. which had been ejected during the explosive eruptions of the past few days. Many of these were still warm, and. on being broken with a geological hammer, were found to be hotter inside. These bombs were noticed as far down as from 800 ft to 1000 ft below the summit of the cone, and the sides of the mountain were pitted here and there with shallow holes where the rocks had fallen. From Castle Rock the climbers worked round the rim to the south, from where a fine view of the active vent was obtained. After having lunch at this spot they commenced to work back to the north, to seew hether a descent could be made into the crater. ROCKS HURLED FROM CRATER. When near Castle Rock a tremendous explosion occurred in the crater, and a column of smoke and red-hot roeks was hurled to a height of at least 100 feet above the summit of the crater rim. Seen ate lose quarters, this manifestation of volcanic energy was a terrifying experience, and a warning that the volcano was not to be trifled with. After seeking shelter near an old lava flow below Castle Rock, in case a second shot should follow, a descent was made to the south crater of Tonganro, and the red crater of this mountain was visited. The southern slopes of Tongariro werec oated with dust from Ngauruhoe, but there was no activity at the red crater. Mr. Grange considers that it is not safe for trampers to climb to the summit of Nganruhoe until the present activity has quite subsided.