Christchurch men ready for Everest

Press, 10 August 1981, Page 1

Christchurch men ready for Everest

Two local climbers will flyout of Christchurch on Thursday bound for Mount Everest. After five frantic weeks of fund-raising Mr Paddy Freaney, aged 42. and Mr Russell Brice, aged 28, think they have all they need for a twoman assault on the world’s highest peak.

A cabaret held on Saturday night to raise funds for the climb was attended by 600 people and raised $5OOO. When added to the $lO,OOO given by individuals, clubs and companies it achieves the target of $15,000 they set for themselves five weeks ago.

“We never had any doubt that we would raise the money,” said Mr Freaney yesterday. “Once you start but on something "like this you have to make it happen." The two men will fly to Sydney on Thursday, then on to Bangkok and Katmandu.

They hope to have completed the 200 km tramp to the site of their base camp, over 5000 m up in the Himalayas, by September 10.

That leaves them a month in which to attempt to climb Everest before the 240km/h jet-stream winds — which have ended so many previous expeditions — begin.

Theirs is a skeleton expedition compared with the multi-million dollar, smallarmy approach usually adopted. Two sherpas will accompany them from the base camp, but they plan to climb the last 1000 m alone. If one of them suffers frostbite or is injured on the last stage, there will be no chance of the other rescuing him.

“Because there are only two of us we will be v ®ry safety conscious," said Mr Freany. "We do not anticipate getting ourselves into any dangerous or difficult situations." "The training we have had is the 15 years we have climbed together." Mr Brice said.

They point out that 28 companies and more than 100 individuals have had sufficient confidence in their ability to support them with money and equipment. New Zealand companies have given them most of the $15,000 worth of special food, clothing, and equipment they will take.

The Mayor of Christchurch (Mr Hamish Hay) has given them a city flag to raise on the summit.

Regardless of whether their attempt is a success, Mr Freaney will return to his job as manager of a Christchurch restaurant, and Mr Brice will return to his building and ski-hire business.

“I do not think the climb will change our lives at all," Mr Brice said.

Next year they plan to lead a New Zealand expedition on an attempt on another Himalyan peak, the unclimbed Mount Number.

“People ask us how we can afford to go on these expeditions,” said Mr Freaney. “and the answer is we don’t."

While they pour most of their own time and money into climbing — the Everest bid will cost them $5OOO each — they still have to rely heavily on donations and sponsorships.