MOUNT MAKALU CLIMBED

Press, Volume XCI, Issue 27670, 28 May 1955, Page 2

MOUNT MAKALU CLIMBED

French Expedition’s

N.Z. PARTY’S PLANS CANCELLED

(N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) NEW DELHI, May 26. A French mountaineering expedition has conquered the 27,790 ft peak of Makalu in Nepal, the fifth highest in the world, the All-India Radio saidi tonight. The expedition, led by 40-1 year-old Jean Franco, began the assault last month. Mr Franco, with Mr Lionel Terray j and two Sherpas, reached the twin J peak of Makalu II (25,130 ft last year; and climbed 27,278 ft up the main peak! when strong winds drove them back, i The party, which includes eight ■ climbers, assisted by 300 porters and j 25 Sherpas, includes a Roman Catholic i priest, who is a geologist. Makalu, immediately south of Mount I Everest, was the fourth highest un- < conquered peak in the world. The two peaks of Kanchenjunga (28,146 and 27,803 ft) and Lhotse. south of Everest (27,890 ft are the higher unconquered summits. Makalu I was expected to be very difficult to conquer because of a sheer; rocky wall of nearly 100 ft below the] summit. An American expedition failed in an attempt to climb it last year. Comment by Hillary A Press Association message says that Sir Edmund Hillary, who has been granted permission by Nepal to take a New Zealand party to Makalu next year, said in Auckland today that those plans would now be cancelled. He described the French conquest as a “magnificent effort.” “We had been granted permission by the Nepalese Government to tackle the peak next year with a New / Zealand expedition if the French one failed,” said Sir Edmund Hillary. “But of course will not be trying now. “Makalu is a fine climb, presenting difficulties rather different from those we encountered on Everest,” said Sir Edmund Hillary.