FIRST ASCENT FROM WESTLAND.

Press, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20495, 14 March 1932, Page 10

FIRST ASCENT FROM WESTLAND.

MT. TASMAN CLIMBED BY THREE GUIDES. (srEciAL to the rnEss.) WAIHO GORGE, March 12. Mount Tasman (11,475 ft); the second Jiighest mountain in tho Southern Alps, was successfully ascended from the Westland side for tho first time on Thursday. The party, comprising the throe -well known Franz Josef Guides, Jack Pope, Jack Cox, and J. Fluerty, left the Glacier Hotel on March Bth, for the Aimer Hut, and on the next day crossed over Newton Pass to the bivouac on the Pioneer Kidge, at the head of the Fox Glacier. On Thursday the party set out at 3 a.m., crossing the Fox Glacier n6v6, and ascending the steep couloir between Mount Tasman and Mount Lindenfeldt and going through the divide at Engineer Col. From here, when negotiating an awkward schrund below the shelter of Mount Tasman, the party was forced out into the east face. Tho main northeast arotc was followed for its entire length, the ridge between the shoulder and the summit being exceedingly narrow. The Descent. On the descent tho party deviated from the route at Engineer's Col, and made the complete traverse of Mount Lindenfeldt (10,459 feet) to the bivouac. The day was beautifully fine and free from wind, the conditions being good for the use of crampons. Fast time was made. A number of telegraphs were taken eh route, and from the summit the times wore as follows: Left Bivouac 3 a.m.; Engineer's Col 7 a.m., summit Tasman 9.10 a.m., return to bivouac 2.20 p.m. The whole climb occupied cloven hours and 20 minutes.