SUCCESSFUL CLIMB.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21131, 14 March 1932, Page 10

SUCCESSFUL CLIMB.

MOUNT TASMAN ASCENDED. ! PARTY OF THREE GUIDES. TRIP TAKES UNDER 12 HOURS. [RY TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.] AVAIHO GORGE. Saturday. Mount Tasman, 11.475 ft., tlie second highest mountain in tlie Southern Alps, was successfully ascended from the Westland side for the first, time on Thursday last. The party consisted of the three wellknown Franz Josef guides, Messrs. Jack Pope, Jack Cox and J. Flucrty. They left the Glacier Hotel on Tuesday for tLc Aimer hut, crossing over Newton Pass to the bivouac on the Pioneer ridge at the head of the Fox glacier the next day. On Thursday morning the party set out at 3 a.m., e ossing the Fox glacier novo and ascending the steep couloir between Mount Tasnau and Mount Lindcnfeldt and going o.'er the divide at Engineers col. From hare, except when negotiating an awkward section below the shelter of Tasman, where the party was forced out into the east face, the main north-east arrete was followed for its entire length, the ridge between the shoulder and the summit being exceedingly narrow. On the descent the party deviated from their route, at Engineers' col and made the complete traverse of Mount,- Lindcnfeldt, 10,459 ft., to the bivouac. The day was beautifully fine and free from wind, the conditions being good for the use of crampons. Fast time was made. A number of photographs were taken en route and from the summit. The times were as follows Left bivouac 3 a.m.; Engineers' col, 7 a.m.; summit lasman, 9.10 a.m.; returned to bivouac, 2.20 p.m. The whole climb occupied 11 hours 20 minutes.