MOUNT COOK.

Timaru Herald, Volume XCVIII, Issue 18084, 21 September 1923, Page 8

MOUNT COOK.

FIRST WINTER ASCENT. EXCELLENT PICTURE RECORD. ' In the YJM C.A. lecture room last evening, and under the auspices of the Association, Mr R. L. Wigley showed and briefly explained a large number of lantern-slide pictures of his mid-winter ascent of Mt. Cook. The. hall was packed from end to end, and the large gathering very frequently manifested keen interest in the views, by applause, and in the lecturer’s often humorous remarks by hearty laughter. Mr Dawson, president of the Y.M.C.A., was unable to preside owing to indisposition, and Mr C. E. Kerr, vice-president, introduced the lecturer, with appreciative remarks about Mr Wigley's energies as a pioneer in New Zealand by car and by aeroplane. Mr Wigley lost no time In getting Mr Lock Williams busy with the lantern, and in quick succession a large number of excellent views were I flashed upon the screen. First came i a number of views about and within the Hermitage, which must have been illuminating to those who had not been there, and interesting to those who had. Mr, Wigley gave an account of discussions on the possibility of climbing Mount Cook in winter. (He had been disappointed by bad weather of doing <he climb in summer. > He was determined to try it; and the attempt v'as quite successful, and In many respects proved more easy than a summer ascent. -On a general view of Mt. Cook the route taken was marked, and a large number of slides showed scores of details of the way up. t fl'heir one serious incident was the j breaking of a snow bridge over a ] crevasse, but they. managed to rope ’ across the chasm safely. Steepness of snow-slopes and ice-slopes, and the smallness of the area of the i summit of the peak, -were well brought out by the photographs. These fully endorsed Mr Wigley’s statement that the party were favoured by a magnificent day, as the pictures were remarkably clear. As a result of this successful winter | climb, he anticipates that there will j be a good deal of climbing done in ] winter henceforth. j As for less arduous winter sports, I many pictures were shown of Bid- | ing, which has become a feature of j rhe Hermitage year, and an annual j carnival will probably be held. There j 1 are practice and racing grounds close to the Hermitage, while more ambiti-

ous ski-ing can be had on Sebastopol and on the upper Muller Glacier. Pictures of skating on the Blue Lakes showed that this sport can also be enjoyed. Altogether Mr Wigley gave the large company a highly interesting and instructive entertainment. , At the close Mr Kerr moved a vote of thanks to Mr Wigley with the remark that the photographs were a splendid record of a splendid adventure. The vote was carried by hearty acclamation.