Hillary’s Objectives In Himalayan Expedition

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29102, 14 January 1960, Page 10

Hillary’s Objectives In Himalayan Expedition

(New Zeaiana Press Association)

AUCKLAND, January 13. New Zealanders will hunt the “Abominable Snowman” at the end of this year in remote Himalayan valleys where, in 1951, the famous British climber Eric Shipton saw yeti footprints. Sir Edmund Hillary will lead the yeti hunt, which is the first stage of a serious scientific expedition concerned with physiological research. It is hoped the climax of the expedition will be the ascent of 27.790-foot Mount Makalu without oxygen Two huts are to be built high in the mountains and seven of the 17-man party will winter there—something never attempted before.

Hunting the yeti will help the expedition acclimatise at altitudes between 14.000 and 19,000 feet. “I’ve got an open mind about the yeti,” said Sir Edmund Hillary, “but it seems obvious something is up there.” The valleys where he and his party—a mixture of New Zealanders. Americans and Englishmen—will hunt the yeti are called Manlung and Rolwaling. Menlung is an almost isolated valley with only three passes leading into it. It is Sir Edmund Hillary’s plan to set up watching camps at each pass manned by climbers with telephoto cameras, guns which

fire a “knock-out” drug, and radios.

“We will keep a quiet watch, and perhaps send some beaters down the arms of the valleys to see what we flush out,” he said. While the hunt is going on other members of the expedition will be busy constructing a stone and canvas hut at about 18,000 ft in the Nare valley which crosses the route to Mount Makalu. Later, a second hut—where the seven-man party will probably spend most of the winter—will be built on a ridge above the valley. It will be “somewhere above” 20,000 ft. Physiologists are anxious to find out how men stand up over long periods to high altitudes. Their research will have valuable applications when men are finally sent into space. Sir Edmund Hillary leaves Auckland on January 23 for the United States, where he will have discussions with the backers of the expedition. He will then go to England to arrange for equipment, and expects to return to New Zealand in the middle of February The expedition is to assemble at Khatmandu early in September.