KINCHINJUNGA CLIMB

Hokitika Guardian, 6 May 1930, Page 3

KINCHINJUNGA CLIMB

ENPEDITION’S progress

United Press Association—By Electric

Telegraph.—Copyright.)

■s LONDON, May 4. , I’lie Kincliihjufiga explorers have e reached ICuunzil, by three easy , s marches from tlie foot of the inouiiz tain. They have sent a despatch to _ say that the transport difficulties had s been greater than those of the cliinbf ihg, owing to late winter sriow- . storms* on the low levels. The party only reached Khuiiza r .through jtlife, efforts of Mr Wood I JdbfiiSon ‘and their faithful ■ Sirdars . and porters. • ■ . ■ . a ifty Nepalese deserted after .. a . serious blizzard at Dzongri on April . 20th, thus forcing the "abandonment of many of the loads in order to traverse the seven thousand feet Kang Pass, tne elevation of which, though eleven thousand feet less chan Mount Kiuchinjunga, had a consider-

able‘effect on the Rings, and also caused liiany severe headaches. Moreover it forced a double march owing to the possibility of another snowstorm; It was a severe test on the porters; . who were not provided with

hoots, which had not been deemed necessary. Their hany hours of trudging in the snow damaged even their leathery feet. ! Hoferlin and Schneider' climbed the nineteen thousand feet Kang Peak, which is probably the first ascent of this summit. This fine performance cm ..their part heartened the weary porters, many of whein stumbled into the camp in ‘ darkness • their being snow blind despite their goggles. One old man, though ills feet were frostbitten, refused to yield up his load "until exhausted. These men’s perform .inco was wonderful. They were carfying eighty polmds apiece'. Some "of the’ porters' with Hannah at 'TseVaiVi Cainp, refused to riiarch i.VVLiI ■ they w'.tre provided with boots,’ mid ■alU' tlie boots available were sent to them. ; : : Later the coolies, acting the snowcio'd ixiKks of- the Margir Pass, over which • they linist go, threatened to strike.' , ' ' : ' Wood Johnston quelled an ugly disturbance. It was discovered that the trouble was due to agitators, who were weeded out and sent back to JXtfjeeiing. The porters have no grievances and they receive their food daily. They also get,an issue of'cigarettes, and since the agitators' departure they'have been cheerful, despite the deep, soft subw. The Maharajah of Nepal sent-.Fnb-aFidar, whose' mrivr.U ended maiiy 'triiiii’/ies'."' He told the" porters^.that: ,the ,Malla'rajah : w'i is 5 personally -i nte'rested in the 'expedition, and that any trouble : makers Would be arrested. Subahdar alsr> provided fifty local coolies, ahd fie disciplined the Headman of' Khunza into promising 1 to ordvide food for the incoming porters.

Plentiful food supplies and equip ment' essential for the attack on Kinchinjunga and Hie leaders of the expedition have now more confidence, and they feel that many important stores, including lum and whisky, will arrive from the lower levels, where they have been delayed.

Colonel Tfebin lias arrived at Yoksan. with seventy-five mule loads of food. Whether he can get them over Llie Kang and Margin Passes remains to be seen; ' '

The expedition has camped amid the magnificent ‘scenery of giant peaks* During their marches, they have had the finest view up the unexplored Yaffo atari Valley ,at the head of which there are amazing nameless peaks, which are dominated by 'the twenty-five thousand three huhdi'ed feet high Mount Jannu. These peaks 'looked hopelessly inaecessable, except to the gods that are reputed to dwell on their fairylike summits.