Some Thoughts from your [unclear: Alpine] [unclear: Advisor.]

There Appears to be a misconception: on the part of many New Zealanders: that of thinking that legislation or teaching can correct bad tendencies and solve all problems. This is perhaps partly optimism and partly [unclear: laziness]. For there is no substitute for hard thought, followed, necessarily, by action.

Such teaching includes courses, here specifically alpine instruetion and bushcraft courses, To explain - Climbing mountains requires, unfortuneately, technical knowledge and competence. The best way to acquire this knowledge is to acquire climb mountains, though using a gradual approach. A set of techniques, say obtained from a course, gives enough knowledge to avoid one being a menace in the first stages, but such techniques are limited as they do not apply to all circumstances and under all conditions. They are not gospel - hence the need for thought and action.

Likewise the Federated Mountain Clubs, in its wisdom, has published a booklet on basic mountaincraft- it must not become - as many may treat it, a bible.

It is not the booklet, courses, etc., that are in error, but the attitude of may people in using them.

Girls can sometimes be very good climbers; and page 3 they definitely do have a place in the mountains. The feminine touch, under a dripping bivvy or in a windblown tent is very good indeed.

However, there is no excuse for a young lady to risk her own life or anyone else's by attempting high mountains in a condition known as soft.

This, of course, applies to anyone, but some girls, using fluttering eyelashes and disarming smiles, tend to get away with much more.

Nor are the hills any place for' playing the field'; nor for excessive modesty.

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A note on safety: don't do anything I Would do, if I think about it first.

Peter Barry.