What's That - More Rope? (Mt Aspiring)

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DAVE THAT WHATS MORE ROPE W4 Mt. Aspiring National Park March 13, three Poms (Bill Cronin, route off the Shipowner Ridge on to Bill Hargreaves, Norm Clarkson) and the N.W. ridge of Aspiring. a Kiwi (Dave Thomson) left Welling- Norm and Dave made the top of ton, bound for Wanaka, and the West Aspiring about 3.30 p.m. on the 18th. Matukituki. An early start had been made by all, By the evening of the 16th they but the extreme lack of snow turned had' reached Colin Todd Hut, and the route into a rock climb, apart from thankfully relaxed after the heavy slog the ice-cap which was sufficiently hard up through Bevan Col. Mt. Aspiring to break the pick off Dave's axe. Moveloomed in the moonlight, 4000 ft above ment here, using ice-screws, was slow, the hut = that and the view over. and when on the return trip one of the Bonar Glacier and beyond put them the party had a slip, the réply from in good cheer, until one by one they his mate over the ridge What's knocked their heads on the low door- that more rope?" was not all that way, and got back to normal again, re- reassuring!!! The two Bills met Norm membering the major setbacks of the and Dave about eight o'clock that night few days I like Bill C. forgetting with torches and a second rope, just paet and that heartwrenching view at the stage when a night out was of Mo the through the binoculars at imminent. Early in the morning they Aspiring Hut. had had to abseil off a section of the No one was particularly anxious ridge, and without help from above the about an early start the next day, which climb back up in the dark may not was eventually spent trying to find a have been so good. Then followed a weary race back to Colin Todd and the here that one of the party was rum only to find someone had filled sunbathing in the latest style the bottle cold boneehe with tea. suit, by a party of O.U.T.C. Fortunately Two days later Norm loped out to the other two had left him in disgust, Wanaka and thence back to work, while and were able to look down on this Dave and the Bills humped another 9 while on their way back to Harris days' grub over Cascade Saddle to the Saddle. Dart Valley. Bill Hargreaves produced It now being Easter, the last four some venison, so the next week re- days of the 17 were spent in the comvolved around the idea of eating as pany of tourists, of which there were much as possible, while generally plenty. wandering down the Dart River in All in all, a good trip. glorious sunshine, up. the Routeburn, and around to Lake MacKenzie. It was DAVE THOMPSON A Warning from the Electricity Department "River levels can rise rapidly down- warning whatever of this rise. The stream of hydro-electric dams and con- Mangahao is the only one that is likely trol works. Rivers affected in the South to affect members of this club; in this Island include the Clutha, Waitaki, case, when the water-level in the reser- Waipori, Arnold, Takaka, Rakaia, voir reaches a certain level, a large Hawea, Monowai, Pukaki, Tekapo, volume of water is let through the Harper Diversion, Cobb, and Lake flood-gates suddenly and automatically. Coleridge outflow, and in the North This has already caused the death of Island the Waikato, Rangitaiki, Manga- one tramper. You are therefore warned ori, Mangahao, and Waikaretaheke." to avoid the lower Mangahao during It must be realised that there is no or after heavy rain. Owing to pressure of space, the final part of the 1915 Southern Crossing account has been held over until the next issue