2690663With axe and rope in the New Zealand Alps — Title pages and Table of Contents1891George Edward Mannering
This work is in the public domain in the United States because it was published before January 1, 1929.
The longest-living author of this work died in 1947, so this work is in the public domain in countries and areas where the copyright term is the author's life plus 76 years or less. This work may be in the public domain in countries and areas with longer native copyright terms that apply the rule of the shorter term to foreign works.
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THE
NEW ZEALAND ALPS
PRINTED BY
SPOTTISWOODE AND CO., NEW-STREET SQUARE
LONDON
With Axe and Rope
IN
THE NEW ZEALAND ALPS
BY
GEORGE EDWARD MANNERING
MEMBER OF THE NEW ZEALAND ALPINE CLUB
MEMBER OF THE ROYAL GEOGRAPHICAL SOCIETY OF AUSTRALASIA
MEMBER OF THE PHILOSOPHICAL INSTITUTE OF CANTERBURY, N.Z.
WITH ILLUSTRATIONS
LONDON
LONGMANS, GREEN, AND CO.
AND NEW YORK: 15 EAST 16th STREET
1891
All rights reserved
THIS BOOK IS DEDICATED
TO ALL LOVERS OF NATURE
P R E F A C E
—
This short work contains the story of five seasons' climbing and exploring in the New Zealand Alps. Most of the material embodied in it has already appeared from time to time, in rather a different form, in the Christchurch (N.Z.) 'Weekly Press.'
The author trusts that the publication of the same in book form, together with a map of the locality and a few photographic reproductions, will supply a want in the shape of a guide-book to the Alpine mountain district which is already beginning to be felt by tourists in New Zealand; and he hopes that the contents may not prove uninteresting to the general public, more especially to Swiss and Caucasian climbers, few of whom are perhaps aware of the extent and nature of the New Zealand Alpine chain.
The map is compiled by the New Zealand Government Survey Office from the work of Mr. T. N. Brodrick, Government Surveyor, and that of Dr. R. von Lendenfeld. The illustrations are from photographs by Messrs. Wheeler and Son. Their operator has in several mountain expeditions accompanied the author, who takes this opportunity of expressing his thanks to the New Zealand Government Survey Department, and to Messrs. Wheeler, for their kind assistance.
It will doubtless be said that the summit of Aorangi has not yet been attained: quite true. Like Mr. Green, the author and his friend were 'wise in time.' Yet it is only a quibble to dispute the ascent of the mountain, for being on the ice-cap of Aorangi is like being on the topmost rung of a ladder, and yet not upon the projections above that step.
Avalanches—The bivouac again—First attempt repulsed—Second attempt—The Great Plateau—The Linda Glacier—Hard work step-cutting—The terrible couloirs—Victory at last—Descent by lantern-light—Back to civilisation
The cause of glaciers—Formation and structure—Motion—Moraines: Lateral, medial, and terminal—'Surface' moraines—Crevasses—Moulins—Glacier tables—Glacier cones—Surface torrents—Avalanches—Cornices
The Waimakariri—The enormous rainfall—Descent of the Waitaki River—The Tasman branch—Lake Pukaki—Leaky canoes—The Pukaki Rapids—The Waitaki Gorge—Out on the plains again—Sixty miles paddle to catch the train—Home once more