At Mt Everest.

Hokitika Guardian, 12 June 1922, Page 3

At Mt Everest.

PROGRESS OF EXPEDITION. j

<■ Tlix timfs ” sruvice

(Received this drif at 9.50 a.ni.') | LONDON, H» I T)r Bruce reports considerable (ft<>trress has been made by the Everest expedition since the last despatch, no- < proving weather heartening everybody. ; The temperature at night was usually twenty-five degrees of frost and the w. ather conditions were curious. It isreally spring time at Rongbuk at a - most the highest elevation in the world. , Vet all the great snow laden peaks re- j min Stable, while a few hundred miles ( westward the conditions are entirely different, resembling European conditions-, the high mountains being almost unapproachable. Thus although a conditions in eastern Himalayas appear favourable for exploration, they really are not so, owing to the difficulties v. itii our coolies, of whom only 45 materialised when wanted. They worked two days and then alleged their food was exhausted and we were obliged to allou them to descend to fetch more food under a guarantee that they would return. Instead of returning they mac e n beeline for borne in Rliarta \ alley. .11l miles to the eastward. All set to wo-c to make up the transport shortage. Meanwhile Strutt, Morslicad, Norton and Lorigstaff started to make a complete reeonnaisnneo for camps at tc ■ •foot oF the north col, which they carried out satisfactorily. Three camps have been established, the first placed above the junction of east and main Bongbuk Valievs at 17,000 feet. Camp number two was established at. 19,300 eastward of Rongbuk glacier. Vte then ieconnoitred a line at an advance across the broken side of the glacier deeming tp the front of the peak mniked 22 580, on a ridge descending notliward from Kverest. Leaving Longstalf to consolidate camp umiilier t«o t remainder pushed up the e Rongbuk glacier, which present, scene of wfld confusion, being intersected bv enormous crevasses. Aft i half a mile we found a trench two hundred feet deep ami four hundred t t wide, rendering progress south cast ward apparently impossible. The par turned south and reached tlie left bank l,Mbe main glacier. With an overcast „kv and intense beat lassitude attack ed‘ most of the party, but we »tiu«J } on until we encountered vert H eracs three to five hundred leet.hij! , rendering further progress again - - possible. Morshed enterprisingly and skilfully found on the route homew. d a negotiable passage through a tiencl mi the morrow. Taking advantage of Morshead’s discovery we proceeded to the main glacier with Kverest towenng . ,3*l a viPAV Ol the liOltil

nhovc. Suddenly a view oi ™.e _ i l, U rst into sight simultaneously in a 'i'TS.r.hw.rS rf « br,,«a covered shelf under tl.e.high, but * cliffs of the north peak of Ui.ing ■ , 94 730 feet This spot was reached * middav and camp number three was established at about 21,000 feet. party then studied the route to -Im north col, which should no > prove d.ffcult, though it is a hig task. t> ea " while at the main camp, owing t esertion of Thibetan cool.es a hands including the kitchen stall an i photographic porters started lor camp No 3 Apart from influenza among the porters, the health of the party is excellent. There is every hope of suimounting the extra work thrown on the remainder of .the party. Hie next task is to fully provision the camp at the north col- —vm