A DIFFICULT CLIMB

Taranaki Daily News, 19 September 1930, Page 5

A DIFFICULT CLIMB

SCHOOLBOY'S ON RUAPEHU. ASCENT OF THE PINNACLES. The precipitous, rocks'known as the Pinnacles,' on the slopes of Ruapehu, were. climbed on Sunday by four boys from the Takapuna Grammar School, J. Kissen,' L. Amodeo, R. Nicks and C. J. Sidford, in charge of one of the masters, Mr. A. G. Coulam. The boys, who were visiting the Chateau, National Park, with a party of 26 other pupils of the Takapuna Grammar School,-' left the Chateau at 9 a.m. and after visiting the Ski Clubs hut, situated at the base of the Pinnacles, commenced the arduous ascent. lhe party was roped and steps were cut up the steep ice-slope, progress being hampered considerably by clouds. The three jagged peaks at the summit were climbed in turn, the journey from the hut occupying in all three hours. The descent was made in 14 minutes by the simple procedure of sliding down the ice and snow slopes. ‘ “The boys deserve a lot of 'credit,’ said an Auckland mountaineer who knows the park well, on being informed of the feat. “As far aS I know the Pinnacles have never been climbed in winter, at least not when they have been under packed snow. The peaks are very precipitous and make an excellent rock, climb in summer, but in winter the task is extremely arduous.” A yqar or two ago the peaks were scaled by' the chief guide, Mr. Krist Renfren, on ski. He made the ascent alone, zigzagging part of the. way and using side-steps for the remainder.