RUAPEHU ASCENT BY OHAKUNE A.T.C.

Wanganui Chronicle, 20 March 1947, Page 6

RUAPEHU ASCENT BY OHAKUNE A.T.C.

(0.C.) Ohakune, March 18. The annual outing of the OhakuneRactihi Air Training Corps this year tuck the form of a trek to the Blyth Hut and, on the following day, an "attack” on Mount Ruapehu. The ascent was made on the 15th inst. under the guidance of Flying Officer E. E. Lothian, who has a number of ascents to his credit. On this occasion the ascent was riauc in a manner rarely attempted. Equ’pped with only rope and ice-pick, the cade is. with th e unbounded energy and enthusiasm of youth, cut their way for the greater part, up the sheer and icy face of the middle glacier, teaching the summit about noon. Below the summit could be seen the steaming ciater with the now empty basin of ♦ he lake arid and grey on the north sale. It was noticed that on the floor of the crater proper a huge seething cauldron had formed, which ovld be seen boiling furiously. During the ascent and return the volcano was mor e active than at any •:me during the past year. One erupt on about 1 p.m. was the largest seen for ever a year, the cloud of steam and dust rising to a height of about 5000 feet above the summit. The purty reached Blyt h Hut about 2.30 p.m. and later, with full pack, returned ‘o Oiiakune, having, during the day covered a distance of 18 miles of mountain and bush.