SUCCESS AT LAST

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18279, 23 December 1933, Page 6

SUCCESS AT LAST

WOMAN CLIMBS TASMAN SUCCEEDS AT NINTH ATTEMPT Advice was received in Christchurch on Wednesday, states the Sun, that Miss Kate Gardiner, the well-known English mountaineer, made the ascent of Mount Tasman last Wednesday. Upon her first visit to New Zealand in 1927 Miss Gardiner resolved to climb Mounts Cook, Sefton and Tasman. A year later she returned and climbed Mount Cook, and upon her next- visit in 1931 she succeeded in reaching the summit of Sefton. In .1929 and 1931 Miss Gardiner made several attempts on Mount Tasman without success and last season the attack was renewed, but bad weather drove the party off the mountain more than once. With another English climber and two guides, she spent 10 days in a crevasse at the head of the Fox Glacier while a tierce storm raged, an experience which members of the party wore very lucky to survive. Miss Gardiner returned to New Zealand in November and lias been waiting in the new shelter on the Pioneer Ridge for some weeks for suitable conditions to renew the attack upon the defiant peak. Mountaineers not only throughout New Zealand, but all oyer the world, will join in congratulating this intrepid lady upon this ascent, at the ninth attempt, of the second highest peak in the Southern Alps. Miss Gardiner was accompanied by Chief Guide Vic Williams, of the Hermitage, and Chief Guide Frank Alack, of Fox Glacier, on her successful climb. She has the additional distinction of being the first woman to climb Tasman from the west side. The first ascent by a woman was made by Miss Freda de Faur, in 1912, by the eastern side. jMount Tasman, 11.475 ft., is recognised as being the most difficult climb of the Mount Cook region. Miss Gardiner and her guides started the ascent from the new Pioneer Ridge bivouac, and made the climb by way of Engineer Col. At one stage tney were held up by high winds for nearly three hours. The descent was made over the Lendonfeldt and down Marcel Col. The party’s actual climbing time was 16-J hours. This was the first ascent of Mount Tasman this season.