N.Z. HIMALAYAN EXPEDITION

Press, Volume XC, Issue 27397, 9 July 1954, Page 7

N.Z. HIMALAYAN EXPEDITION

FAILURE OF ATTEMPT ON CHAMLANG HILLARY TO LEAVE ON WAY HOME TODAY (N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) CALCUTTA, July 7. Sir Edmund Hillary, who returned to Calcutta today from Katmandu, said tonight that his New Zealand expedition to the Barun and Hongu .valleys in the Himalayas had failed to achieve its main objective—the scaling of the 24,012 ft peak Chamlang. He said that a close reconnaissance had failed to reveal a route to the summit of Chamlang, the highest of the three peaks the party set out to climb. Sir Edmund Hillary expects to fly to his home in New Zealand on Friday. He told reporters that the early breaking of the monsoon had also prevented the party from climbing 22,300 ft Ama Dablam, where they .were delayed by the fall of Mr James McFarlane. But he said they did reach the top of Baruntse 23,800 ft up and climbed 18 other peaks higher than 20,000 ft. He expressed satisfaction at the expedition’s outcome, adding that they had explored considerable territory not visited previously. The information collected by Charles Evans and Norman Hardie would, be given to the Royal Geographical Society, London, which would prepare a detailed map of the area. Evans and Hardie took an independent route out of the Barun Valley to carry out further explorations, and have not yet reached Katmandu, said Sir Edmund Hillary. The other four, George Lowe, Williafn Beavan, Michael Ball and Geoff Harrow will go on to Bombay from Katmandu shortly. Harrow will then : return to New Zealand and the other 1 three will sail for Britain on July 16. ■ Sir Edmund Hillary said he planned lto resume his normal life of beekeeping. He said he expected to come ; back again to climb Makalu in 1956.