Farewell Function For Andean Expedition

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29778, 22 March 1962, Page 12

Farewell Function For Andean Expedition

Four memers of the New Zealand Anaean climbing expedition, who expect to leave on their trip next month were bidden farewell at a function organised by the Canterbury Mountaineering Club in Christchurch last evening

They are Messrs B. Hearfield (leader), L. Crawford B. Naylor, and H Furndorfler, all of whom are members of the Canterbury Mountaineer ing Club Two other mem bers of the party, Messrs P Farrell and V. Walsh, are already in Peru with the expedition’s equipment. The expedition’s main objective is the ascent of two virgu? ice peaks, Mitre and Saesarayoc, in the Cordillera Vilcamba of the South Peruvian Andes Mitre is about 19,000 ft and Saesarayoc 20.000 ft both being described by a 1957 British expedition in the region as “extremely formidable, climbs.” A strong Swiss party was to have attempted Saesarayoc in 1960. but withdrew before a serious assault was begun The New Zealand expedition has been helped by a grant from the Mount Everest Foundation, London, and by grants from the New Zealand Alpine Club Canterbury Mountaineering Club and Craigieburn Valley Ski Club Mr Hearfield, the leader. wm is 34, is an engineer He wen- to the Antarctic in 1957 on the first official Government expedition to explore and map the are® inland from Cape Hallett. He has climbed extensively in the Southern Alps, including man; oi the more difficult ascents Mr Walsh, the deputy

leader is 25, and a photoengraver by trade. He was born in London, but has lived in New Zealand for the last five years. He has climbed extensively in the Southern Alps and was a member of the party which made the firs’ ascent of Mount Cook by the east face las* year Mr Crawford, who is 24. is a carpenter. He was a mem ber of the expedition which attempted Carstensz Pyramid in New Guinea last year—since climbed by Heinrich Harrer’s expedition He was a member of the summit party of the i 960 Andean expedition which climbed the exceedingly difficult peak of Cayesh He was; also in the party which climbed the east tace of Mount Cook last yeai Mi Farrell, who is 24, is an eleetrica) linesman. He is an exceptionally good rock climber and has climbed in England and throughout • the Southern Alps. He, too, was in the party which climbed the east face of Mount Cook last year. Mi Naylor, who is 28, is a comnositor. He has climbed extensively in the Southern Alps, including a difficult first traverse of the Arrowsmitlrangt last winter Mr Furndorfler. who is 32. is a carpenter by trade, but is also a qualified ski instructoi and mountain guide in his homeland Austria He came tc New Zealand in 1956 with the Viennese “Comedy Harmonists’ who toured here for tour months. He returned to New Zealand in 1958, and worked at the Hermitage, Mount Cook, during which time he made many ascents in the Southern Alps Both Mr Hearfield and Mr Walsh speak Spanish the common language over most of South America.