SCALING MOUNT EVEREST

Otago Witness, Issue 3519, 23 August 1921, Page 19

SCALING MOUNT EVEREST

FORMIDABLE OBSTACLES. LONDON, August 16. A despatch from Tingvidzong, dated July 16, states that the reconnaissances and approaches to Mount Everest by Mr Mallory and Mr Bullock reveal that the chief obstacle to progress are the great glacier streams, which are at present uufordable, though there are occasionally rickety bridges. At Rongbuk Valley a view was obtained of giant precipices from the northwest face of Everest. The monastery of Rongbuk is situated 16,500 ft up. It is a curious place. There are from 300 to 400 hermits and nuns, who live in the valley in the greatest seclusion in solitary cells and caves. No news of the outer world ever penetrates to them. The wild animals and birds are extraordinarily tame. The reconnoitring party camped at a height of 18,000 ft, from which they surveyed terrible precipices (almost sheer) 10,000 ft down. At Rongbuk, glaciers, with difficult rockclimbing, guard the approaches to the high ridges. August will be devoted to an examination of the north-western and eastern fa-ces of Mount Everest. At the end of July the base camp will be moved to Kaharta, in the Arun Valley.