Hillary To Lead Climb On Mt. Taweche

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29896, 9 August 1962, Page 12

Hillary To Lead Climb On Mt. Taweche

(New Zealand Press Association)

AUCKLAND, Aug. 8. Sir Edmund Hillary is to lead another expedition to the Himalayas next March to climb the 21,338-foot Mount Taweche. The expedition will also build another school for Sherpa children. Mount Taweche stands behind the village of Thyangboche on the route to Everest, and although passed by many mountaineering parties, it has never been fully climbed. The srst European to set foot on it was Sub-Lieutenant P. D. Mulgrew. of Auckland, who made a reconnaissance climb to 19.000 feet with a Sherpa in 1960. He later los' both legs in an unsuccessful assault on Mount Makalu. Four Americans

There will be at least three other New Zealanders besides Sir Edmund in the forthcoming expedition—two doctors and an engineer. The other Europeans in the party

will be four Americans and an Englishman. Sir Edmund plans to build a second school at Thyangboche from the Hillary School Fund, which is financed by his lectures and private subscriptions.

The fund, which financed the building of the first school at Khumjung two years ago. also pays the salary of a Sherpa schoolteacher. In another scheme to help the Sherpas, the expedition’s engineer will lay plastic pipe from the sacred mountain. Mount Khumbila, for a new water supply to the village of Khumjung. Sir Edmund is expected to return to New Zealand from the United States at the end of December to prepare for the expedition. The construction work will be carried out in March and April, and the attempt on Mount Taweche will be made in May.