Page:Through South Westland.djvu/340

218 beyond what we expected, and we often paused on our upward way to admire to the full the glory of that afternoon. Looking down the valley we could plainly see Mount Earnslaw and the Dart valley over a low saddle in the dividing range.

“As Clarke and I neared the top of the saddle, you can imagine we were quite excited and anxious to see whether disappointment or a hope of success was in store for us. So you can imagine our joy to find, when we at length reached the col, that we practically stood on the border of an immense snowfield some two-and-a-half to three miles across, and which afforded us a clear route to the foot of Aspiring, standing up grandly in front of us.

“After picking a route for the final climb of the peak we returned to camp, and reported to Captain Head that everything seemed favourable for success.

“The following morning we rose at 12.30, starting an hour later by lantern-light, and by following our steps of the previous day reached the saddle just as day was breaking. Our hopes, however, did not rise with the day, as a sudden change of weather threatened, and thick mist started to drive up from the north, and we were soon enveloped in a dense and cold fog. However, to our joy, as the sun rose, it again cleared, and we were able to proceed; and we started off across the great snow plateau at a brisk walk, and after an hour-and-a-half we stood at the foot of the real climb. We