GIRL’S TRAMPING FEAT

Taranaki Daily News, 2 April 1934, Page 4

GIRL’S TRAMPING FEAT

NON-STOP ROUND MOUNTAIN HUNDRED MILES IN 33J HOURS. SEQUEL TO OTHER LONG TRAMPS. ENERGETIC NEW PLYMOUTH HIKER.

To have walked 100 miles in one trip without sleep is a feat of which any male hiker might well be proud, but for such a journey to be completed by a young woman alone is no ordinary achievement. Such was me accompli* ment of Miss Rene Johnstone, Westown, New Plymouth, during the past weekend.

Miss Johnstone, who has many arduous trips to her credit, left New Plymouth at 6.45 on Saturday morning and made her first stop for a cup of tea at Okato at 11 a.m. After a short rest she continued her journey, and reached Opunake in time for tea. There she spent two and a half hours in resting.

Owing to a bad blister on one heel she decided to continue her tramp in sandshoes, and at 7.30 p.m. she set out on the second half of the trip. Conditions were excellent, and an average of four miles an hour was maintain till daybreak. Kaponga was reached at midnight, and after a short rest Miss Johnstone set out for Eltham, which was reached at 4 a.m. The next important milestone was Stratford, which was reached at daybreak. At Rugby Road, Tariki, the tramper had another rest of two hours, and New Plymouth was reached at 4.10 p.m, yesterday, 33| hours after setting out the previous day. Miss Johnstone was not in any way distressed after her arduous task, and complained only of a blistered heel and the coldness of the night in central Taranaki.

In February, 1933, Miss Johnstone walked from New Plymouth to the top of Mount Egmont and back to the hostel, from where she was brought home by car. So easy did this walk appear that she determined to walk to the top and back to New Plymouth in one day. This she successfully accomplished in April the same year. Miss Johnstone also offered to undertake a record-breaking walk through New Zealand in aid of charity, but did not gain the support anticipated. Howgver she intends to make the trip if the opportunity occurs.