AMONG ASIA'S GIANTS

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 42, 18 August 1930, Page 9

AMONG ASIA'S GIANTS

METHODS OP CONQUEST KINCHINJUNGA FAILURE LONDON, 16th August. • Summing up the experiences of the Kinehinjunga Expedition,' Mr. Smytho declares that when political prejudices and difficulties are overcome, Northern and North-Eastern Nopal will tie a most interesting field for the explorer and mountaineer. There is indisputable evidence of a former ice age in huge terraces in the Lhonak Valley. Mr. Smythe points out that the expedition made several mistakes. It did not give a sufficiently long notice of'its departure in order to recruit the best coolies from remote villages, and foolishly split into three separate parties. This caused great difficulty in maintaining communications. It would have done better to have started after the monsoon and so have avoided t the winds which lower the vitality and'demoralise climbers. Among the technical lessons the most important was that several layers of light clothing were, preferable to heavy suits; boots should not be too heavy and should be sparsely nailed. Sugaiy foods were the most suitable diet. i . ■

"Men who will force a way to the summits of Everest and Kinchinjunga will be capable 'of disciplined minds as well as bodies," states Mr. Smythe. "They Will be genuine philosophers who experience in mountaineering something far greater and finer than the more physical joy of struggling with an inanimate object."