HIGH SCHOOL BOYS VISIT MOUNT COOK DURING WEEK-END

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18450, 28 April 1928, Page 15

HIGH SCHOOL BOYS VISIT MOUNT COOK DURING WEEK-END

THRILLS OF CLIMBING AWAKE ENTHUSIASM FOR MOUNTAINEERING

Perfect weather favoured a party of forty-five Boys’ High School boys, who, under a master, Mr IT. I. Sinclair, paid a visit last week-end to The Hermitage, Mount Cook. The trip was made under’ one of the school’s excursion runs by the Mount Cook Motor Company.

The party left Christchurch on Saturday, April 21. arriving at The Hermitage at 7.30 that evening. On Sunday, the party divided into two, one going to the Hooker Glacier and climbing Mount Sebastopol, and the other walking the fourteen miles to the Ball Hut and the Tasman Glacier.

On their arrival at the Ball Hut, the party went at once for a walk to get used to the ice. This party was under the Swiss guide, Oscar, and spent a most enjoyable time inspecting the glacier.

On Monday, the party went up the Tasman Glacier to the Hochstetter Icefali. On this trip the party'- passed near a huge accumulation of ice, which was just about to come over a high cliff as an avalanche. The boys were a trifle nervous of the fall, although they were perfectly safe.

During the night spent at the Ball Hut, a concert among the boys was organised, which produced excellent talent. Each boy had to give an item, the guide also performing on the mouth-organ and giving Swiss folksongs.

The huge Tasman Glacier gave the photographic enthusiasts in the party enormous opportunity, and the explanations of the guide added to their interest in the crevasses, in the action of the glacier, the effects of snow and in other points in connection with the glacier.

Several avalanches were seen by both, the Ball Hut party and the other. The Hooker Glacier party stayed at

The Hermitage for the nights they were there, but during the day went climbing, Mount Sebastopol being their most ambitious effort. They saw several ohamoix, some lizards and the usual keas.

During the evenings spent at The Hermitage, concerts were organised, guests playing the piano and singing, while the boys gave hakas and school choruses.

Whether it was the attraction of wearing complete mountaineering kit, or the attraction of mountaineering in itself, all the boys are determined to get back to Mount Cook at the earliest opportunity.

“A part of the trip which amazed me,” said Mr Sinclair, “was the enormous amount of food the boys ate. Altogether, it was by far the best short holiday I have ever" spent, and from the point of view of education of the boys, was eminently successful. All are determined to get back as soon as possible. Nothing was too much for The Hermitage people to do for us; t-hey simply laid themselves out to give us a good time.”