MT. DE LA BECHE CLIMBED

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28802, 24 January 1959, Page 10

MT. DE LA BECHE CLIMBED

New Route By West Ridge Mr O. Coberger,' of Arthur Pass, and Mr D. McTaggarf, of. Glasgow, climbed rMt de la-BeeM (9800 ft by a new route by way of the west ridge, under difficult conditions last Tuesday. Sir Edmund Hillary climbed the same mountain 10 years ago,, but used the north ridge. There have been other notable climbs in the Mt. Cook araain. the last few weeks. 1 w On Sunday, Messrs Coberger and McTaggart climbed Malte Brun (10,400 ft Mt. Cook has been scaled three times this season, and Mt. Tasman twice. Conditions so far this season have been the best on record, I with perfect weather, and firm • snow surfaces, Mr Coberger said yesterday. However, the sustained spell of fine weather had had its disadvantages as condlttons were now deteriorating. ‘‘The snow is melting rapidly, the ice is breaking away from the; rocks, and climbing is becoming; increasingly difficult and danger-: ous, especially above 10,000 feet,” said Mr Coberger. a A heavy snow is needed before there Will be any improvement.” t There had been few oversea! mountaineers climbing so , fat, although some Americans and Australians were expected lateg.