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The Pamphlet Collection of Sir Robert Stout: Volume 68

Monday

page 14

Monday.

After a few attempts to descend to the Clinton through wet scrub winch felt fully as bad as being up to one's waist in water, the fog made it impossible to continue, and so the summit was returned to, since it was there possible to walk about while waiting for the fog to clear away. This was very cold work, for a driving wind made the fog and damp atmosphere very piercing and worse than the rain to persons thinly clad in football jerseys, &c., and wet through to begin with. In spite of walking about, a feeling of torpor came over the writer, and but for the exertions of his companion, who insisted on his moving, he would probably have laid down never to rise again. Since the fog did not clear up, and since the matches were lost and both persons wet through, it was at last decided to return to the Beech Hut, there to get the clothing dried, to get matches, to get a little more oatmeal, &c., and also to get a blanket which some person had (as it happened) most opportunely left. It was easier to go backwards than forwards in the fog (in spite of the previous mishaps and mistakes on this side), for by going on the Saddle summit right up to Balloon Peak, and descending on its base until Roaring Creek was reached, the grade and travelling is comparatively easy. Once down to Roaring Creek it had only to be followed to lead to the hut, where 3 o'clock p.m. saw the writer and his companion quartered again. Having lit a large fire and having gone to bed in a state of nature, wrapped up in tents and the solitary blanket found in the hut, it was compulsory to stay in this position until the wearing apparel was dry.