EUROPEAN ALPS

Evening Post, Volume CXXV, Issue 115, 18 May 1938, Page 4

EUROPEAN ALPS

VARIED CLIMBING

ADDRESS TO ALPINE CLUB

The varied and interesting climbing [ —-scenically and technically—to be found in the European Alps was described last evening to members of the Wellington section of the New Zealand Alpine Club by Mr. W. G. McClymont, of the Otago Boys' High School, who, when in Scotland recently on exchange, climbed extensively |in the Lake District. Scotland, Germany, and Switzerland. Mr. McClymont was a guest in Germany with a party of English climbers, and brought back with him an excellent collection of lantern slides. Mr. McClymont said he spent a short holiday in the Lake District, going there more out of curiosity than anything else. He went to the island of Skye as the guest of the Scottish Mountaineering Club, and when in Edinburgh climbed in the weekends. Using Keswick as a base in the Lake District, he quickly found that all the poets had said about the country was very true and that one had to get an exceedingly good photograph to do justice. It was easy to get lost among the rocks and crags, and if mist came down it was wise to follow the cairns. The Great Gable, the Pillar, and Scawfell, and Napes's. Needle were some of the more famous peaks visited by Mr. McClymont, but he liked the climbing in Skye better, He found it more varied and better for friction holds. Climbing in Scotland, he said, was considered to be preparation for climbing in Switzerland, and it was said that if Ben Nevis had another 500 feet Scotland would have its glacier. A party of Germans had visited England and chosen some of the highlights of climbing, and when the trip was reciprocated the visitors found that difficult work had been mapped out for them. They climbed in Southern Bavaria and the //istrian Tyrol, but when Mr. McClymont later went to Switzerland and saw the famous Matterhorn, Monte Rosa, and Lyskamm the weather was against extensive mountaineering. Many slides were shown by Mr. McClymont, several being fine illustrations of climbing technique. They will form the basis for further lectures. Mr. J. D. Knowles, vice-chairman of the section, presided, and at the close of the address supper was served.