328 Transactions. — Geology. 



edge of the bush ; but, as this was the highest point at which 

 "we could find water and grass for the horses, we were unable to 

 proceed further, and made up our minds to make up the lost 

 distance by an earlier start next day. 



On the morning of the 8th we were astir at daylight, and 

 before the sun had risen were far up the mountain's side. A 

 sharp walk of two hours brought us to the first patch of snow, 

 at a height" of 6,500 feet. The distance travelled was about 

 3 miles, over low ascending rocky ridges. 



The ascent so far was not steep, and only rendered difficult 

 by the numerous deep rocky water-courses that had to be 

 crossed. These were generally dry, but in early spring they 

 must be roaring torrents, judging from the great size of the rock 

 masses strewn in their channels and piled high on their sides. 



At 6,500 feet we encountered permanent snow-fields. The 

 ascent now became steeper and more difficult, and but for the 

 sun's rays softening the surface snow we could not have pro- 

 ceeded. Each member of the party was equipped with a 

 properly-shod alpenstock and heavy nailed boots, and by means 

 of these we were able to ascend places that otherwise were 

 impossible to us. 



Our intention was to have worked our way round the south 

 side of the mountain to the great snow-field lying between the 

 south-east peak, facing Karioi, and the south peak, the highest 

 part of Kuapehu, known by the native name, Parataetaitonga, 

 and then followed up this to the summit. However, we were 

 unable to do this, for on reaching this field we found the snow 

 frozen so hard that we were unable to dig our alpenstocks into 

 it, or to make steps that could be considered safe, taking into 

 account the steepness of the ascent. In order not to lose time 

 we proceeded straight up the south-east peak. The ascent was 

 exceedingly steep, and very slow, as great care had to be exer- 

 cised in making steps and securing a firm hold with our alpen- 

 stocks. Several narrow rocky ridges cropped out on our route, 

 but they had to be carefully avoided, as the slightest touch was 

 often sufficient to send a shower of loose rocks flying across the 

 enow, to the imminent danger of the whole party. 



After a slow and trying ascent of three hours, the summit of 

 the peak was reached, and it was not without some anxiety that 

 we hastily examined the saddle between us and the highest 

 peak, for it was quite evident to all that it would be next to im- 

 possible to return by the way we had come, on account of the 

 steepness of the snow. 



The saddle, or more properly "col," lay about 450 feet 

 below us, and how to reach it was difficult to determine. The 

 northern side of the peak we were on presented a perfectly per- 

 pendicular wall of bare rock, being too steep to carry snow, 

 while on its southern side the snow was frozen too bard to 



