EXCURSION ON HILLS

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 372, 14 March 1932, Page 8

EXCURSION ON HILLS

Large Party Takes Part in Outing.

One hundred and thirty-five excursionists took part in a tramp from Motttkarara to Diamond Harbour yesterday. Three of the party, secondary school boys, followed the wrong track from Mount Herbert, and arrived in Port Levy in the afternoon. They spent the night there. The three boys, PeLer Skellerup, George Osborne and Andrew Tillman, returned to Christchurch ‘today.

Leaving Christchurch at 8 a.m., the train arrived at Motukarara at 8.50 The first of the trampers reached Diamond Harbour at 2.30 p.m , and, with the exception of the three boys who went to Port Levy, the remainder got to Diamond Harbour at 4.15 p.m.

Visibility was excellent until the Packhorse was reached, but from there to the top of Mount Herbert, misty conditions prevailed, preventing the party from getting the wonderful panoramic views that are usually obtained from the top of the ridges. The mist continued until the party was half way down Mount Herbert, but from the lower slopes some remarkable views were seen by the party.

The distance, sixteen miles and a half, did not prove too much for any of the party, the only necessity being stout shoes, especially in the cas> of women. High-heeled shoes are useless for tramping over this route. During this week the track from Mount Herbert to Diamond Harbour will be pegged by officials of the Kail way Department. This will enable it to be followed, no matter how dense the mist might be.