THE SECOND HIGHEST PEAK

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIV, 31 May 1930, Page 4

THE SECOND HIGHEST PEAK

WHICH IS IT? The expedition which will attempt lo reach the summit of Kanelieujimga may or may not be attacking the second highjest peak in the world, a correspondent 'of the "Times" wrote recently. Mount j Everest is the highest. As to the moun--1 tain which conies nearest to Everest in height there have been differences of I opinion for many years, and there is no warranty for a dogmatic pronouncement. But it is either Kanchenjunga or that monarch of the Karakoruin known as K 2 and sometimes called Mount Godi\vin Austen. They are. so nearly of the i same height, that, despite (ho most accurate trigonometrical survey possible, there is still room for doubt. As determined by the Survey of India, the' beiglits of the three, highest peaks in the world aro:—Mount Everest, 29,C02ff.; K 2,28.250 ft.; Kanchenjunga, 28,146 ft, This gives K 2 (he advantage of 104 ft. 'over kanchenjunga. Considering the 'very high accuracy of the work of the I Survey, of. India, these figures are accepted without questions as the heights ascertainable 'by trigonometrical process. But they arc not necessarily the true • heights of the mountains, as is also genj orally acknowledged by those competent to form a judgment. 'Sir Thomas Ilold{itch, whose authority is not questioned, held that there were bound to be errors "more or less" in the Survey figures, and that for three reasons. One was ignorance of the laws of refraction in cases where the rays of the sun traversed rarifiod air in regions covered with snow; and another,that the actual height of peaks, varies with the increase or decrease of snow or ice on the summit. Taking into account all the factors, the problem was worked out by Colonel S. G. Burrard, Superintendent, Trigonono■mctrii.il Survey of India, who came to I the conclusion that the most'probable heights of the three chief mountains were:—Everest; 29,141 ft.; Kanchenjunga, 28,225 ft.;, K 2,28,191 ft.; thus making Kanchenjunga 24ft. higher than K 2. Colonel Burrard's, figure's were made public more than 20_ year's ago. They did not claim precise accuracy, but seemingly there are, none better to lake ■their place. • Equally there are no new figures, to take the place of those determined by trigonometrical survey. Those are, for the reasons given, almost cer- ■ tainly a little erroneous, but whether the j -.error is enough to place Kanchenjunga j above K 2 cannot be said. , I