ALPINE ACTIVITIES

Taranaki Daily News, 1 May 1933, Page 6

ALPINE ACTIVITIES

FIRST WINTER CLIMBING FUN IN THE SNOW ON EGMONT. SUMMIT TRIP AND SKI-ING. Winter alpine activities were commenced on the slopes of Mt. Egmont this week-end with much energy and with snow down to within a short distance of the hostels at North Egmont, and Dawson Falls ski-ing and climbing under winter conditions were the order of the day . , The first summit trip since Monday night’s snowfall was accomplished from North Egmont by four Taranaki Alpine Club members, Messrs Roy Sole, N. Lealand, T. Wright and J. Hefford, who set out during the morning and reached the top about noon. Snow conditions were good, steps being required over only the last 100 feet or so, but the weather was cold and windy, with occasional slight blizzards. The return from the summit to the hostel took under two hours. At the hostel the weather has not been good.. .Although snow has fallen on the higher levels during the week the covering .at . the hostel has melted away and the snow-line is now three-quarters of a mile from the hostel. There was no view yesterday, and drizzling rain fell. Twelve cars visited the hostel during the day.

Mt. Egmont Alpine Club members, under the leadership of Mr. H. N, Murray, were active during the week-end, one party going to Curtis Falls in the Manganui Gorge and another of 12 members climbing to Syme Hut on Fantham’s Peak. It was too stormy to go further, and the party remained to make repairs to the hut. The ski-ing ground above the hostel has been in good shape for ski-ing, which was possible for the first time on Anzac Day, when there was nine inches of snow on the track. Conditions have remained good enough for ski-ing to be enjoyed on the track, but excellent sport was possible on the lower slopes of Fantham’s Peak, where first-class sport was obtained by the party that climbed to the hut.

There ,were a number of visitors to Dawson Falls hostel during the day, which remained perfectly fine throughout.' .