75 Years Since First Climb Of Mount Cook

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32145, 14 November 1969, Page 8

75 Years Since First Climb Of Mount Cook

(From Out Own Reporter) | TIMARU. Nov. 12. Next month will be the seventy-fifth anniversary of the first ascent of Mount Cook. The peak was first; climbed on December 25. i 1894, by T. Fyfe, G. Graham,: and J. Clarke. This brilliant ascent by an! altogether new and difficult; route in the Upper Hooker ’ was not repeated for 61 years l when D. G. Herron, G. J. McCallum, R. Tornquist and H. P Barcham made the same climb.

It was the hundredth ascent of Mount Cook. By March 31, 1969, 262 ascents (783 persons) had been recorded.

On one day this year 13 persons were on the high peak and on another occasion three climbers slept the night on it by choice and as planned.

The rate of Mount Cook ascents is as follows: First ascent, December 25 I 1894. One hundredth ascent, December 25, 1955 (100 ascents , in 61 years). Two-hundredth ascent i March 31,1966 (100 ascents in ! 11 years). Two hundred and sixtysecond ascent. February 8, 1 1969 (62 ascents in three | years). For the year to March 31, 1969, a record number of climbers (78) ascended the high peak, compared with 47 and 1967-68, and 38 in 196667; 12 climbed the middle peak, compared with eight in 1967-68, and 10 in 1966-67; and ! 22 ascended the low peak of ! Mount Cook (10 in 1967-68, land four in 1966-67).