IMPRISONED FOR TWO DAYS

Taranaki Daily News, 13 January 1932, Page 3

IMPRISONED FOR TWO DAYS

PARTY IN MOUNTAIN HUT, AN UNUSUAL EXPERIENCE. An imprisonment for two daya In the Douglas Rock Hut at the foot of the Copland Pass, with scanty food and little sleep, was at once the most exciting and the most enjoyable experience of the party of 25 members of the Y.M.C.A. Tramping Club, who returned to Christchurch, says the Press, after a fortnight’s tour from Hokitika to Mount Cook.

The early morning of Monday, January 4, found the party packing by candle-light in the Welcome Flat Hut, Westland, in preparation for their trip through the pass. Just at dawn they started on the track, reaching Douglas Rock at 5.45 o’clock. Although the weather was then no good, there were signs of an improvement, and they went ahead, on to the pass. Suddenly, as they were climbing, clouds of mist swirled up the valley, and by the time they reached Luncheon Rock snow was falling heavily. “We sheltered behind the rock as best we could,” said Mr. C. G. Pegg, leader of the party, ‘‘but w’hen the barometer continued to fall, the snow to get thick--er, and the wind to blow stronger, Chief Guide Williams decided that it was impossible for us to proceed further. It was then difficult for us to see more than a few yards ahead. Reluctantly w;e returned to the Douglas Rock Hut, getting well soaked on the way. Here, although there were only eight bunks among 26 people and a very scanty supply of food, we decided to stay until the weather cleared. “That day our food was rationed, and we spent a rather sleepless night resting for an hour or so in turn. We were awake early on the following morning, but the rain continued and it was snowing heavily on the higher ground. An advance was still impossible, so we began to explore the hut for any spare food, discovering after diligent search a small quantity of flour, a small tin of rice, a piece of cheese that might have done service in a mouse-trap, and the remains of a piece of bacon, which had been wrapped in a bit of paper and thrown into a corner. In addition to these we had our own stores—a few loaves of bread, a few tins of ’ meat, jam and butter. "It was then that Lyn Murray, who had come over to meet us with Guide Williams, proved himself a wonderful cook. He made scones with the fl-our, a stew with the odds and ends, and a little porridge with, some oatmeal and rice. Though we had enough for only about one meal, we made it last that day and saved enough bread to have one slice each for the following breakfast.” That evening the trampers debated whether some of them should return to Scott’s farm for provisions, but they decided to. risk waiting until the following day. During their imprisonment in the hut they had some fine sing-songs and discussions, and under the circumstances had a very happy and cheerful time.

“That night we dozed a little in what remained of the eight bunks—l say ‘what remained,’ for seven of them, having been used to far more than full capacity, had begun to sag in spite of a reinforcement with ropes. Incidentally,’ we ha'd only eight blankets, one mattress, and one pillow. In the night the wind changed, and stars were again to be seen in the sky. At 2 o’clock in the morning we were packed up again, and eating our lonely piece of bread and butter and drinking sugarless tea. At 3.45 we set out on the trail, using two candles in improvised lanterns and sundry electric torches. The sight of 26 men going through the bush and climbing the 1 slopes of the valley in the darkness before the dawn, illuminated by these odd lights, must have been rather a novel one to the curious keas that followed us.”