HILLARY IN THE ALPS

Press, Volume C, Issue 29681, 27 November 1961, Page 17

HILLARY IN THE ALPS

First Climb Since Stroke (From Our Own Reporter) TIMARU, Nov. 26, Sdr Edmund Hillary is now climbing about in the Southern Alps on his first venture of that kind since he suffered a mUd stroke in the Himalayas earlier this year. He left Auckland on Wednesday morning, and by 5 pjn. that day he had established a tented camp on toe Annette plateau in toe Sealy range. This was possible because his N.A.C. flight from Auckland connected with a Mount Cook Air Services flight to toe Hermitage, and he was able to take a skiequipped Cessna at midday from there to his camp site in toe mountains.

Sir Edmund Hillary and his friend from Nelson, Mr D. Robertson, are with a sixman geological party from Auckland University. The geologists are led by Professor A. Lillie, professor of geology, and Sir Edmund Hillary has joined them because of toe keen interest he has developed in geology in the last few years. The camp is at 7000 ft on the west side of the range. A Mount Cook National Park ranger visited toe area today and Sir Edmund Hillary arranged with him for extra supplies to be air-dropped to the party. They are expected to return to the Hermitage on Thursday. Sir Edmund Hillary brought two portable radios with him similar to those he used in the Himalayas. He has one with him and toe other is at the Hermitage. The sets have a range of up to 25 miles and a radio schedule is being maintained every evening.