ALPINE ASCENTS

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLII, Issue 20611, 28 December 1936, Page 5

ALPINE ASCENTS

ENGLISH CLIMBER Miss Kate Gardiner, the English climber, who is at the Hermitage, Mount Cook, for the climbing season, has recently made two ascents from the upper reaches of the Hooker Valley. In company with Guide Frank Alack and Chief Guide Vic Williams, of the Hermitage, Miss Gardiner climbed the Harper saddle and Mount Sturdee one day, and made an attempt on La Perouse the next. The La Perouse trip was unsuccessful because of unfavourable conditions, but a day later the south peak of Mount Cook was made. The ascent of this peak of Cook is considered to be fairly difficult. It provides excellent rock and snow climbing. The time taken on this climb was a little more than 18 hours. The ascent of Mount Cook was made from the Gardiner Hutt, a new hut named by the Mount Cook Tourist Company after Miss Gardiner. Its height is 5200 feet, and, situated almost under Mount Cook, it serves as a base for several big climbs. Miss Gardiner and the two guides hope later in the season to make an attempt on Mount Aspiring, near Wanaka, and Mount Tutoko, in the Milford Sound region. Several climbs have been made recently by Mr H. K. Douglas, the wellknown Wellington mountaineer, and Guide M. Bowie. They have made ascents of Mounts Elie de Beaumont, Walter, Green, and the Minarets, and they are now awaiting favourable conditions for an attempt on Cook. Parties of ski-ing enthusiasts will be going to the Malte Brun hut from the Hermitage within the next few days for summer ski-ing.