FUTILE ATTACK ON EVEREST

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVII, Issue 19511, 9 June 1933, Page 7

FUTILE ATTACK ON EVEREST

CLIMBERS DEFEATED BY BAD WEATHER. united Press Association —By .Electric Telegraph—Copyright (Received June 8, 5.5- p.m.) LONDON, June 8. The Bangkok correspondent of the “Daily Mail” says: The Everest climbers are abandoning temporarily the attempts on the Summit. Another four days of fine weather are necessary to establish themselves in Camp VI., and the climbers are unlikely to be equal to the effort even if the weather becomes unexpectedly better. It is officially stated that the climbers may remain in the camps for the duration of the monsoon, but those acquainted with the Himalayas consider this impossible, as the blizzards may isolate the camps for days. The Royal Geographical Society and the Alpine Club financed the Everest expedition, and Mr Hugh Ruttledge is the leader. The other members of the party are Mr F. S. Smythe, of Kamet and Kanchenjunga fame. Mr E. O. Shelbeare, who is well acquainted with the mountain, Mr L. A. Brocklebank, Major Boustead, Dr R. C. Green, Dr W. W. McLean, Mr C. G. Crawford, Mr Wyn Harris, Mr J. Longland, Mr E. E. Shipton, Mr L. R. Wager, and Captain E. St. J. Birnie. Early in March they met at Darjeeling. In the middle of March they began the first week’s trek to the base camp, twelve miles from the mountain. Eighty porters were taken, and yaks, mules and donkeys were used for transport. The last 2000 feet had to be covered in a single day, and oxygen was carried from the highest camp. The top camp in 1924 was at 27.000 feet, and the late Messrs Mallory and Irvine reached at least 28,200 feet, Everest is 29.000 feet high Mr Ruttledge recently mentioned the possibility of finding an oxygen cylinder at the top, and very many hoped that j the actual height reached by the two | lost climbers would be established.