SUMMIT OF MT. COOK.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1692, 7 March 1913, Page 4

SUMMIT OF MT. COOK.

A RECORD CLIMB. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) Christchurch, March* G. Lieutenant Gran, of the British Antarctic expedition, accompanied by Guides Graham and Milne, has secured the honour of having made the journey to the summit of Mount Cook and back in record time—U hours 30 minutes. commenced tho ascent by the aid of a flickering candlelight. The journey across the plateau was described as "absolutely glorious," but they found the Linda Glacier very much broken, and while crosisng the glacier the climbers had to exercise caution and dodge many crevasses. The climbers decided io mako a "da«h for the summit" by a new route, and they,selected th 'ewestorn face of the mountain, a way which had not previously been taken by 'climbers. Tho last stretch proved a .difficult clircl), Imt eventually the party gained the summit of Mount Cook. Here they remained for three-quarters of an hour, and they obtained a glorious view, the sea on either side of (he South Island being within range of their observation. On the return journey tho principle difficulty met with was on the Linda Glacier, where the hot sun prevailing had considerably softened the snow, and tho men mnde a slow journey with tho snow over their knees.