MOUNT COOK IS VISIBLE FROM THREE POINTS ON PLAINS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17915, 3 August 1926, Page 14

MOUNT COOK IS VISIBLE FROM THREE POINTS ON PLAINS.

Mr G. E. Mannering sends the following interesting contribution regarding the visibility of Mount Cook from the Plains: Sir,—My attention has been drawn to the discussion on the question as to whether Mount Cook can be seen from the Canterbury Plains. Your issue of July 31 quotes the Chief Surveyor, Mr Stewart, as stating that “ Cook’s snowy cap cannot be seen from the plains of North Canterbury, for the curvature of the earth prevents that, apart from the many rough ranges which shut it out from view.” As to the question of earth curvature, 1 think your reporter must have misunderstood the Chief Surveyor, or misreported him as stating that the curvature of the earth would prevent Mount Cook from being visible from the Plains, as Mr Stewart is reported in the “Ashburton Guardian” of July 29 as stating that Mount Cook is visible from near Dromore and from another point in that locality. According to tables published by the Royal Geographical Society, the distance of the sea horizon from a mountain 12,349 ft (the altitude of Mount Cook) is 118 miles. Dromore is about 400 ft above sea-level, and the. sea horizon is distant some twenty-one miles, so that from a standpoint of 400 ft altitude to a point 12.349 ft in height there would be a line of sight not interfered with by earth curvature of 139 miles in length. Now, Mount Cook is clearly visible from the sea-level at the mouth of the Rakaia, and the distance in a straight line is 103 miles. If the Royal Geographical tables are correct—which cannot be doubted—one could still see Mount Cook from a further fifteen miles out at sea. If the form of Mount Cook, as viewed from the east, is known to the observer, it can be readily identified from a considerable area of country along a line drawn from the mouth of the Rakaia straight to the peak itself—which can be done on any good map of Canterbury. This line will pass just north of Dromore and through the depression between the Ben M’Leod and Two Thumb Ranges on the Rangitata, forming the valley of Forest Stream, a tributary of the Rangitata. The form of the mountain is like that of a tent, with the northern end rather higher than the southern. Immediately below the highest peak, a large black face of rock can be distinguished, even without the aid of glasses on a very clear day. The pealc at the head of the Rangitata, so often mistaken for Mount Cook, is Mount D’Archaic (a pointed peak leaning to the north), which is the culminating peak of the Two Thumb Range, and forms the eastern boundary of the Godley Glacier. In the “ Ashburton Guardian ” of July 29, Mr Tucker is quoted as saying that Mount Tyndall (776tft) is visible near Mount D’Archaic He is evidently talking of Mount Alma, which is the most prominent peak of the Two Thumb Range east of Mount D’Archaic. Mount Tyndall is hidden away up further north—on or close to the main divide—and quite out of the picture. I have no hesitation in stating that Mount Cook can be seen from the following points:— 1. From the Port Hills, about midway between Cass Peak and Cooper’s Knob, and from Cooper’s Knob itself. (It is not visible from Mount Pleasant or Cass Peak ) 2. From the mouth of the Rakaia River, and from over a considerable area of the Plains in that locality. 3. From the railway line between Dromore and .Chertsey.