Page:Letters from New Zealand (Harper).djvu/375

Rh own, full of interest, not only to the climber, but for its description of the general features of the Mount Cook country.

Since then several successful ascents have been made by New Zealanders and others, not only of Mt. Cook, but of other peaks, only a little lower, but as difficult. There are a great number of them, and every opportunity for those who wish for new heights to conquer. Very few accidents have as yet occurred, none, I think, fatal, but unless great care is taken there will be many. Avalanches and falling stones are frequent. The Nor'west winds, which seem to be generated in these Alps, are especially dangerous in the Autumn season, when climbing takes place. They are hot and strong, with the natural result of melting snow. Much discussion has taken place as to their origin. At one time it was held that they came from Australia. I doubt it. A thousand miles of ocean would surely deprive them of heat. When I was in Westland, which lies all along the western flanks of the Alps, heavy rain always took place when dry Nor'westers were at work on the eastern side of the mountains. It was not a lee shore, no westerly wind from Australia; and often, when I have been riding in early morning in the high country on the eastern side of the Alps, a perfectly still morning till about ten o'clock, suddenly, with a great blast, a Nor'wester would spring upon you, as if it were brewed there and then. Maybe it is due to the heat of a southern sun acting on the immense surface of rock and ice and snow, causing a vacuum in the air, into which the colder air of the western forest-covered slopes would rush.

There is much to attract holiday makers in our