NEARING SUMMIT

Press, Volume CV, Issue 31018, 25 March 1966, Page 13

NEARING SUMMIT

Eiger Peak Climb

(N.Z.P.A.-Reuter —Copyright) KLEINE SCHEIDEGG (Switzerland), March 24.

Two men waited today in the snowy solitude of the Eiger peak to greet the first man to scale the “killer” mountain by the direct route.

The British alpinist, Mr Chris Bonington, and a photographer were landed by helicopter on the 13,025 ft mountain late yesterday, as British, German and American mountaineers edged closer to their goal.

A 24-year-old Scot, Dougal Haston, was reported leading the climb of the mile-high face and is believed to be only some 500 ft from the summit. A thick mist bank last night obscured the climbers, who have been toiling for nearly a month to reach the peak. Far below them the body of one of their colleagues, 30-year-old John Harlin, lay in Grindewald village, at the foot of the face.

Harlin, a former American jet pilot, died yesterday when he plunged nearly 4000 ft off the mountain face into the snow-covered ski slopes below.

Launching Delayed.—Lauching of the first orbiting astronomical observatory has been put back from tomorrow until next Monday, says the National Aeronautical Space Administration. —Cape Kennedy, March 25.