N.Z. invited to attempt peak

Press, 2 November 1985, Page 28

N.Z. invited to attempt peak

PA Invercargill A New Zealand-China expedition may become the. first to climb the world’s highest unclimbed summit, Nam Che Bawa. The Chinese Government has ipvited the New Zealand Alpine Club to join Chinese climbers in an attempt on the peak in 1987, Mr Austin Brookes has announced. Mr Brookes returned this week from leading the club’s unsuccessful attempt on Mount Everest. The approach to the mountain was made from Tibet, where Mr Brookes asked permission to climb Nam Che Bawa. “Almost every country in the world is after that mountain, it is such a plum,” he said. The United States had

offered a $lOO,OOO peak fee just to climb the near 26,000 ft summit China declined the offer.. Mr Brookes said he had no idea why New Zealand was chosen to join the expedition, since New Zealand mountaineers traditionally worked on a shoe-string budget - ."7 The mountain is set in the bend of a river in a remote part of Tibet. Mr Brookes said he would present the proposal to the club this week-end. Acceptance of the invitation would probably hinge on funding. He estimated the cost at $250,000. If the club accepts China’s invitation, Chinese mountaineers would first come to New Zealand to climb with New Zealand mountaineers here.