SOLO CLIMBING

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23381, 24 June 1939, Page 18

SOLO CLIMBING

BAN BY ALPINE CLUB ACTION IN TARANAKI PRIOR RESIGNATION NEEDED " CHOOSE ANOTHER MOUNTAIN " [by TELEGRAPH—OWX COBRERrO.VDENx] KE"W PLYMOUTH, Friday

Solo climbing on Mount Egmont has been forbidden to its members by the Taranaki Alpine Club. The committee has decided 'that those who wish to climb alone shall first sever their connection with the club.

"Solo climbing is at all times accompanied by a great deal of unnecessary risk," says a statement issued by the committee. "Accidents are not so likely to occur if two or more are climbing together, especially on snow or ice, when the use of a rope will often save a man from slipping more than a lew feet. -

"When anyone is hurt while climbing solo no one might, know of the accident until he is overdue at the destination, and this might be several hours later, whereas re'iief parties for an injured member of a party of climbers can be directed by one of his comrades. An injured solo climber necessitates search parties covering large areas of country, often after dark, with only a small chance of being successful if injuries are serious arid the man is unconscious.

' "Solo climbers have teen the victims of' most of the serious accidents on Mount Egmont. They ha re caused much ■criticism to be levelled, at the clubs to ; which they belong, and they have given much trouble and expense to search parties. "It has therefore been decided by the committee that those who prefer to climb in solitude should first leave the club and 'then preferably choose another and more distant mountain on which to put into practice their own perverted ideas of mountaineering."