On Everest’s Slopes.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XI, Issue 201, 18 August 1921, Page 5

On Everest’s Slopes.

GREAT HEIGHTS AND SOLITUDE. F0U?« HUNDRED LONELY HERMITS. DWELL IN ETERNAL SILENCE. (Received 18, 9.10 a.m.) London, Aug. 16. A dispatch from Tingriozong dated 16th July states that reconaissances and approaches to Mount Everest by Mallory and Bullock reveal that tho chief obstacles to progress are great glacier streams at present unfordable, though there are occasionally rickety bridges up the Rongbuk Valley. A view was obtained of giant precipices from the north-west face of Everest. The monastery of Rongbuk is situated 16,500 feet up. It is a curious place. There, from three to four hundred hermits and nuns live in the valley in the greatest seclusion, in solitary cells and caves. No news of the outer world ever penetrates to them. Animals and birds are extraordinarily tame. The reconnoitring party camped at a, height of 18.000 feet, from which they surveyed the terrible precipices. It is almost a phe n r r °n thousand feet down tho Rongbuk Glacier with difficult rock climbing guarding approaches to the higher ridges. August is being devoted to examination of north-western and eastern faces of Everest.At the end of July the base camp will be moved to Kaharta, in the Arun valley.—(“Times.”)