Antarctic Climbing Costly

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31235, 6 December 1966, Page 1

Antarctic Climbing Costly

Antarctica would not become a happy hunting ground for mountaineers for a long time, the leader of the first American Antarctic mountaineering expedit i o n, Mr N. Clinch, said in Christchurch yesterday.

Mr Clinch said that at present climbing mountains in the Antarctic was expensive. “If transport becomes more readily available, and less expensive, then perhaps we may see more climbing parties wanting to go down there,” he said.

Mr Clinch heads a party of 10 which will attempt the first ascent of the continent’s highest mountain, the 16,860 ft Vinson Massif in the Sentinel Range. Without United States Navy support the project would be virtually impossible, he said. “Let’s face it The Antarctic is attractive to the mountaineer. There are unclimbed mountains down there and where there are, climbers usually follow,” he said. A great amount of preparation had gone into the expedition, he said. The idea had been in the minds of some American mountaineers for several years. Two weeks ago another American climber, Mr W. W. Sayre, announced he would lead a team of three which would attempt to scale the Vinson Massif. As far as Mr Clinch was aware Mr Sayre was on his way, although little news was available.

The Japanese and the Italians were also believed to be interested in climbing the Vinson Massif, said Mr Clinch. But he had seen nothing definite on their plans and it would be wrong to imagine a race to the peak. “If the two parties attempt to scale the mountain about the same time then I do not expect it would create any sort of problem,” said Mr Clinch. While members of his team were being issued with Antarctic clothing at Harewood yesterday, Mr Clinch was fretting about some of the expedition’s gear which was being flown to Christchurch separately. He said he expected to reach the summit before Christmas.

Although oxygen would not be used on the climb, it might be used for medical purposes, he said.

In preparation for the climb the team members studied aerial photographs of the mountain and the general area.

Mr Clinch said the ascent would be made from the western side. “How fast we go will depend on how we feel, how difficult the mountain turns out to be. and, most important, what the weather is like.”

In addition to climbing the Vinson Massif the team hopes if time permits, to climb Mt. Tyree, named after Rear-Ad-miral D. M. Tyree, the second commander of of the U.S. Navy’s Antarctic support force. The team will be in the Antarctic for six weeks. Asked what would be placed

on the peak to mark the occasion, Mr Clinch said it would be a surprise. Later he said there would be flags, and a register in which succeeding climbers would be able to put their names. The team will leave Christchurch this morning for MeMurdo Station aboard a United States Navy aircraft.

taking provisions purchased in New Zealand. Depending on the weather, a Navy Hercules is expected to fly them to about 20 miles from the foot of the mountain where a base camp will be established and from where initial reconnaissance will be made.