POLAR PLATEAU JOURNEY

Press, Volume XCVI, Issue 28414, 22 October 1957, Page 18

POLAR PLATEAU JOURNEY

Climb May Be Begun Today [From DENIS WEDERELL. “The Press" Correspondent with the U.S. Antarctic expedition.!

McMURDO SOUND. October 20. The New Zealand tractor trains and dog teams led by Sir Edmund Hillary are expected to start the 100-mile climb up the Skelton glacier to the Polar plateau on Tuesday. The deputy-leader of the expedition (Mr J. Holmes Miller) and Dr. George Marsh with two dog teams were flown to the foot of the glacier by the Beaver aircraft. A disabled weasel, one of the four vehicles in the tractor party, which has a broken distributor shaft, is being towed today to tthe foot of the Skelton glacier. It is expected to reach the depot here. 180 miles from Scott Base tonight.

Squadron Leader J. Claydon and Flying Officer W. Cranfield, who flew the dog teams to the depot, said that the wind had eroded the ice at the foot of the glacier and made landing there difficult to the point of being dangerous. Only emergency landings will be made there in future. Some air drops may be required later in the season.

When the tractor towing the weasel arrives at the depot Mr Murray Ellis will repair the damaged vehicle, removing the engine if necessary. If spare parts are needed for the engine, they will be dropped by the Beaver.