Egmont - A Cracker Day

Machine-read text (unproofread)

Read from the scans by software, so it contains mistakes. Typing it up properly would help blind readers: use Suggest an edit.

A CRACKER DAY NORTH EGMONT We stood about on top for quite a while, Friday night saw a wild rush for the top photographing or just admiring the view. A berth on the truck with a joyful 7 securing rare day for Egmont, almost too good to go possession the rest contenting themselves with down but soon the snow would start to straw down below instead of mattresses. We re-freeze. Anyway at last I could make use left at 8.15 to journey through the night of the cumbersome load that had been carried sometimes sleeping until our arrival at 6.15 up. Saturday morning to be greeted by a view of a partly mist covered Egmont in the early Up on the highest mound of snow we morning light. We found our quarters in a could find we put on our skis, and with very good cottage with all mod. con. and excited yells started down. settled in to have breakfast. 9.30 found us A few easy but steep turns, then across off up the mountain and after the graunch up the crater floor. Flashing over the rim trying to the Tahurangi Hut at 5,500 ft. we were to keep up with the others and suddenly the really in to snow. The weather was not particularly inviting with a thick mist but no wind. After a short spell at the hut to re-organise, the party pressed on gradually dropping bods by the wayside. Shortly after starting up the snow fields to the Lizard the mist cleared briefly giving an excellent view of the mountain standing proudly arrayed in a shimmering mantle of fresh snow. It was a beautiful sight and a pause was made while cameras clicked in an effort to record the glimpse of Nature's loveliness. Onward again to the base of the Lizard where the party roped up in preparation for the final stage of the climb among the fantastic formations of ice festooning the Mt Egmont Neil Woodrow rocky cliff near the summit. On top at last whole world had dropped away. The slope is with not a thing to be seen by the ten who less fearsome as it widens out and perfect had completed the climb, the mist being too granular spring snow all the way. The others thick for even a glimpse of the crater. are well ahead skiing fast in the ideal Lunch was quickly disposed of in a still and conditions. The rest of the run down was not quiet atmosphere resembling that of fairy land, difficult but still exciting. Fast turns down cut off from contact with the ordinary way the slope that seemed to go on and on. A of life. traverse round Fanthams Peak and then down out of the sun into the clouds and mist. With a slight feeling of regret we left Finally even the lowest fingers of snow gave the top, returning in good time to an already out and it was all over. But what an prepared meal and the comfort and warmth of exhilarating run. a fire with a dance at the Hostel for those who wanted it. The rain started as we walked down the track but it didn't matter. lt had been a June 1948 glorious day and something I had wanted to do for a long time. And even in the rain there is something enchanting about the place. Tony Gazley, October 1977

Urewera