The Daily News WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 13, 1930. EGMONT AND CLIMBING.

Taranaki Daily News, 13 August 1930, Page 8

The Daily News WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 13, 1930. EGMONT AND CLIMBING.

The contributed article on Mount Egmont which the Daily News yesterday had the privilege o£ publishing seems to have been read, as it deserved, with very great interest. It was the reply

not only of a lover of the mountain but also of a believer in the virility of young New Zealand to some of the very pessimistic comments that have been uttered during the past week. The tragedy which occurred ten days ago has naturally been a topic of conversation, and some of those who have discussed it have taken the view that Egmont is too dangerous to be a playground, and therefore should be left in majestic solitude. If this view were permitted to prevail Taranaki would be a heavy loser. The mountain is a source of attraction to people elsewhere, but still more important is its usefulness as a training ground for youth. Mountaineering affords its devotees an exceptional opportunity of attaining physical which is something to be coveted, and it also serves as a valuable instrument for the buildof character. The principles of team work can be inculcated even better on the mountain than on the playing field, for each member of a mountaineering parly must learn to bear his share of responsibility and must give of his best, not for the sake of applause, but for comradeship. Health, love of nature, spiritual uplift—these are the rewards of the mountaineer, and all are to be won with comparative ease on Egmont, for the mountain is at everybody’s door in Taranaki. It must be confessed, of course, that ease of access may constitute a danger, and that is a point which demands consideration. There is scarcely anyone in Taranaki who cannot make the very comfortable trip to one or other of the three hostels established on the mountain, and under normal conditions the feat of climbing some distance above the hostels is within the compass of everyone who is reasonably active. That is why the mountain may be dangerous, even in the summer months. But there is no reason why such dangers as may present themselves should not be overcome by organisation and care. Is it possible for the Mount Egmont National Park Board, the three committees which function under its auspices, and perhaps the three alpine clubs, to devise a scheme of organisation which would make the mountain safe? The task should not be beyond them. In dealing with such a matter there is a natural reluc-' tance to restrict the “liberty of the subject” by hard and fast rules, but at least steps should be taken by prominently displaying notices at the three houses to im- . press upon climbers the necessity | for taking precautions. It is worth while for the mountain

authorities to consider whether regulations should not also be made to control mountaineering expeditions. If this were deemed desirable the experienced man in charge of each house would have to be given large powers. It would be the duty of every parly proposing to go up the mountain to report to him and obtain, his sanction, which would be based upon his knowledge of conditions, his estimate of weather jirospects, and his satisfaction with the equipment of the party and the capacity of its leadership. The climbers, of course, would have to accept the directions and instructions they received and, if necessary, to modify their plans in accordance with the expert advice tendered. Similar powers to those of the three caretakers or chief guides perhaps could be conferred upon qualified officers of the alpine clubs. Then the three houses would have to be in close communication with' each other. (Each should advise the others at | stated intervals of the. number of j parties climbing, giving details of their leadership and their objectives. In the event of one house receiving a call for relief its first duty should be to advise the others, so that all three could consult as to the best means of meeting the emergency and so could make the best disposition of their forces.' The- alpine clubs, of course, would be always ready to co-operate with the three houses, and they could do good work by adopting,the suggestion, which ‘‘Optimist” mentioned yesterday, to form an ambulance corps. Whatever may or may not be done in regard to the regulation of climbing, it is certainly the first essential that tlie closest co-opera-tion should be established among the authorities—the board and committees —and that the three houses should be linked definitely in the service of the mountaineers. With this accomplished, details of supervision and organisation would be worked out without difficulty. There are many lovers of tlie mountain who would gladly aid an endeavour to ensure the safety of climbers so far as it is possible, and more than that is not to be expected. There is no means, by which all risk could be eliminated from mountaineering, even on Egmont, and that is well. The sturdy young manhood and womanhood of this country would cease to exist if it had no danger to face.