MODERATION IN CLIMBING

Press, Volume XCVI, Issue 28447, 29 November 1957, Page 17

MODERATION IN CLIMBING

Mr A. Thomson’s Advice “Climbing teaches humility. There is no room for feelings of personal pride,” said Mr A. P. Thomson when he gave the final lecture in the Canterbury Mountaineering Club’s climbing initruction course. The course has been held over the last three months. Mr Thomson, who has been associated with climbing for many years, said he wanted to emphasise the desirability of a gradual approach to mountaineering. •‘ln our day, there were no schools of instructors, we had to learn for ourselves by trial and error. In this way there was a gradual development of judgment of weather conditions and other contributing factors.” he said. Although members of the school had been instructed in mountaineering techniques they still had to acquire a sense of judgment. For this reason, they should exercise moderation in their mountaineering. Tendency to Specialise Mr Thomson asked his audience to try to develop into all-round climbers. New Zealanders tended to specialise in snow and ice craft. European climbers, on the other hand, favoured rock climbing because of the firm nature of the rock on the Continent and England. A good mountaineer should observe climbing etiquette. Climbers should always leave a record of where they intended to go and ask permission to cross private land. Camping facilities should not be abused, and there was a need for extreme care with fires. But, above all, climbers Ihould exercise moderation, said Mr Thomson.