CLIMBING EVEREST.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 17 June 1924, Page 3

CLIMBING EVEREST.

FORCED BACK TO CAMP. INTENSELY COLD. BY CABLE-rBEBS ASSOCIATION -COPYRIGHT LONDON., June 15. Advices from the Everest expedition, dated May 26, shew that the advance has again been temporarily defeated. After ascending,to camp -1 oh the North Col, the expedition'is now recuperating at the base camp and camp Y before making a fresh attempt. It was only by superhuman efforts that some memjrers of the party and a number of porters had their lives saved. The conditions at camp 4, at a height of 23,000 feet, were found to be most dangerous, and it was decided to evacuate it. Mr Hazard was shepherding the porters down a treacherous descent four lost their nerve and returned to camp. Their only food was a sack of meal. The others reached camp 3. The snow was falling heavily and the cold was extreme, with 50 degrees of frost. It was realised that unless the marooned porters were quickly rescued their doom was sealed, and tiie next morning Mellory, Norton and Somervell started on the dangerous ascent and managed, after a tremendous effort, to reach the porters and bring them safely to camp 3 at an altitude of 21,000 feet. They were terribly exhausted and almost frozen. Snow fell continuously for 20 hours, with 56 degrees of frost, the lowest temperature experienced cm any Everest expedition. Sleep was impossible, not only duet to extreme cold, but prolonged fits of coughing. There was no sign of improvement, but many indications of a monsoon breaking. Consequently on May 24 the main party retreated to the base camp, a smaller party remaining at camp 2. —Times.