Fine Traverse Of Sefton-Footstool

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30035, 21 January 1963, Page 12

Fine Traverse Of Sefton-Footstool

(New Zealand Press Association) TIMARU, January 20. One of the few remaining alpine strongholds of the South Island was conquered hat week. The Mount Sefton-Footstool traverse, considered for many years by experienced alpinists to be virtually impregnable, was successfully completed by two young North Island students at present on a working holiday at the Hermitage.

The Mount Cook National Park Board’* chief ranger (Mr J. L. Burke) said tonight that details of the climb had just been reported. It was accomplished by Messrs P. Miller and J. Sheffield, of Auckland University. The traverse took in the previously unclimbed east ridge of Mount Sefton (10,359 ft and the Footstool (9,073 ft It was one which experienced mountaineers had been contemplating tackling for many years but had been deterred from attempting by the seeming impossibility of success. Mr Burke said there had

been talk of a lone climber making the traverse many years ago, but thi* bad not been corufumed or recorded. The Miller-Sheffield expedition started at the Hermitage on Wednesday and extended over three days. The climbers got to midway along the ridge connecting the peeks by 9 p.m. and camped overnight. At dawn they reached the foot of the east ridge of Mount Sefton and began their ascent, reaching the summit at noon. They retraced their path down to the ridge, and camped overnight again midway along it. On the third morning they climbed th* Footstool and returned to the Hermitage by way of the normal route. The climb was the most outstanding of the current mountain seeeon which ha* been virtually ended by a fortnight of fine weather and high temperature*. Snow condition* now are considered too hazardous on the majority of peek* and it i* unlikely that any more major climb* will be undertaken until cooler weather bring* a hardening of the anew.