PHENOMENON ON MOUNTAIN

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVII, Issue 19805, 22 May 1934, Page 8

PHENOMENON ON MOUNTAIN

TIMARU PARTY’S EXPERIENCE SIMILIAR TO “SPECTRE OF BROCKEN ” Besides obtaining an excellent day s climbing, a wonderful panoramic view of the Canterbury ranges, and making interesting observations concerning plant life, a Timaru party of six which made an excursion to Blue Mountain during the week-end, encountered a meteorological phenomenon that was as strange as it was interesting. The members of the party proceeded up the Waihi Gorge to the Saddle and tr.en climbed Blue Mountain. They returned to the Saddle and proceeded to the most northern part of Four Peaks and down the eastern face. Just as the climbers entered a bank of cloud on the descent of the Eastern face, at a height of about 4000 feet, they observed the phenomenon. It had the appearance and colours of a rainbow, except that a complete circle was evident. It appeared to be only about 100 yards distant, had a diameter of about 12 feet, the rainbow colour effect being patterned right to the centre of the circle resembling an archery target. The shadow of an observer's head was reflected in the circle of colour. The party witnessed the sight for about five minutes before it faded away just after 4 p.m. The phenomenon appeared to resemble the Spectre of Brocken, so named from having been first observed in 1780 on the Brocken < 3733 ft) the highest point of the Hartz mountains in Northern Germany. The Spectre of the Brocken reveals the magnified shadow of the observer cast upon a bank of cloud or mist in the high mountain regions, when the sun is low, reproducing the observer in the foim of an enlarged but misty image of himself. The spectre is seen with and without colour effects. View From Blue Mountain. From the summit of Blue Mountain (5500 ft) a magnificent view of the outlying ranges of Canterbury was obtained. Looking northward from this point, range upon range of hills jutted out in the Canterbury Plains, first coming Mt. Peel Range in the immediate foreground, then the Mt. Torlesse Range, Mt. Hut and far away to the north Mt. Gray, in North Canterbury. On a very clear day the distant Kaikouras could have been observed from this vantage point, but these were obscured in the cloudy atmosphere in that direction. Looking to the northwest the mountains surrounding the basin of the Rangitata River were spread out in cold and snowy array, the rugged Arrowsmith Range presenting its jagged ridges ir. clear outline. while further west the main divide could be seen. The whole of the western horizon was taken up by the Two Thumb Range, the peaks of Alma, Inkerman and Two Thumbs could be clearly seen, wind swept, and bare of snow, while the range more immediate to Mt. Fox was more liberally coated with snow, and gave promise to a wealth of good ski-ing during the winter, the snow line being about 5000 feet at present. To the south could be seen the tops of the Haldon Mountains and east of them the Kirklston Range on the far side of the Hakataramea Valley then closer st: 11 the Albury Range and Hunters Hills showing their highest points through a thick blanket of cloud. The nearby Four Peaks Range completed the encircling panorama of mountain grandeur, and , truly the climbers’ reward was the magnificent view. Plant Life on Mountain. Although the season is too late for flowers many of the small heath plants were making little patches of colour with their fruits on Blue Mountain. There were the bright red and orange berries of the dwarf Coprosmas, the red and white snowberries, and most striking of all the showy purple berries of the Pemettya, a small rather rare shrub which is found only in the South Island although it has relatives in Tasmania and South America. Seven species of the Celmisia or mountain daisy were seen. Most abunant were the common plant and the grass leaved daisy while at higher levels were the hoary mountain musk, the snow Celmisia, and the tiny needle leaved Celmisia. On the rocky scree near the top were a num’: r of colonies of the Vegetable Sheep and it was very hard to believe that these could belong to the same great daisy family as the beautiful little South Island Edelweiss which was hugging the nearby rocks seeking what shelter it could. Coming down a very rocky spur of Four Peaks the party saw a few plants of the Native Anise but this is rapidly being exterminated by sheep which are very fond of it and is only likely to survive in a few very inaccessible places. Only one white Gentian was seen as the season is very late for them but the number of dead flower stalks of this and the little Eyebright showed that both could be found in plenty during the summer.