ARTHUR'S PASS IS VERY POPULAR.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 19109, 30 June 1930, Page 16

ARTHUR'S PASS IS VERY POPULAR.

EXCURSION PATRONISED BY OVER 500 PEOPLE.

A day of glorious adventure among the snow in the Arthur’s Pass National Park was spent by the record crowd of 539 excursionists who journeyed to this popular alpine playground yesterday. The weather conditions were perfect for such an outing and the heavy coat ing of snow on the road and the mountain sides but a few chains distant from the railway settlement enabled the happy throng of pleasure-seekers to indulge in a variety of exhilarating alpine diversions that a few years ago were denied to a considerable section of the public. Yesterday’s excursion was a far greater success than any had anticipated, the number taking part being twice as large as on the previous Sunday. There is now no doubt that Arthur’s Pass is definitely established as one of the most popular week-end playgrounds for the people of Christchurch. A new race of hardy young people, full of the vigour of youth, and intent on enjoying to the full the delights and thrills of alpine sports is growing up. Skiing, tobogganing, ice skating and moun-

tain climbing are no longer joys reserved only for those who can afford to go to the more distant alpine resorts —the Railway Department and the Arthur’s Pass National Park Board have virtually brought them to the very fringe of the city. The heavy fall of snow a -week ago followed by hard frosts, provided exce' lent ski-ing and toboganning runs on the main road a few minutes’ walk from Arthur's Pass railway station yesterday, and those who did not participate in these sports, were thrilled and intrigued by the experiences of the amateurs and experts. It would, however, have been better if the public had given the ski-ing enthusiasts a clearer run on the road.

Between forty and fifty pairs of skis and about half a dozen toboggans were in use yesterday. More than half of the ski-ing enthusiasts took their own skis with them on the train, and over twenty pairs were hired for the day from Mr Oscar Coberger, the Swiss guide at Arthur’s Pass. Many of those taking part in the exhilarating spori of ski-ing were amateurs who have not yet become proficient, and quite a number of them put on the snow shoes for the first time. The Christchurch Ski Club has an active member ship of 59, and each week it is gaining fresh recruits.

Other excursionists indulged in mountain climbing, using the tracks that have been formed by the National Park Board. Quite a considerable number walked to the Bealey Glacier, a few actually going on the glacier, while others not equipped for such a strenuous trip went as far as Margaret’s Tarn, a tiny lake which is now frozen hard and provides good ice skating. At Margaret’s Tarn an accident accurred, a young lady falling on the ice and injuring her back.