THE HIMALAYAS

Hokitika Guardian, 8 April 1931, Page 2

THE HIMALAYAS

AMBITIOUS CUMBERS. EXPEDITION LEAVES FOB iNOIA [Hinted Press Association. ■’.> iuJc'.ric 'I eJegrupli— Copyriti. , LONDON, April 5, An expedition pf five young ?nou has left London 'for lmlfe to climb tho unconquered Himalayan peak of Kapv.et, the altitude of which is 25,447 feet. They are under the leadership of Mr F. S. Fmythe, probably England’s most famous mountaineer. Other members of the party are : Captain St J. Ilirnie, Mr R. L. Holds worth. Mr F.. If. Sliipton. ail'd Dr Kavmond Greene.

‘•| expected a stalwart of six-f'odtt odd, looking traditionally bronzed ami fit, a ‘red-meat’ man, with Giulia eyes and Mackenschmidt thews, who would likely swing a pet alpenstock and rasp, ‘Damme, sir, w© sweated halfway up Kanchananga in ’29!’ “Instead 1 met a slight youth with

fair hair and shy .smile, a diffident young man who twiddled a cigarette between his fingers and said, ‘Good afternoon—a hit cold!’ In this manner an English journalist commenced Ids account of a recent interview with Mr fsm.vthe, the leader of the Ivamet Expedition.

“Mr Frank Sinythe is the shy mountaineer who climbs mountains with a blush. He is probably one of the most famous climbers in England, whose books on tli e subject are standard, and who was one of the party who attacked Kanehanjanga, the ‘Himalayan Ogre,’ with Professor Dyrenfurtli in 1021).

“He has now practically completed the equipment of a British expedition whilh will attempt Mount Karnet one of idie thirty or forty Himalayan 25,000 foot peaks. The highest climb up to date is .Jonsong, 24,344 feet.

“He is taking with him Mr R. T/

Holdswortl), the Oxford double ‘blqe’ Dr R. Greene and Mr Eric Sbipton—who is returning specially from Kenya —and he expects to be joined in the attempt by a member of the Himalayan Alpine Club. THE REAL REASON, “ ‘lt should cost us about £4OO n head,’ he said. ‘My wife would like to come, no doubt; but no women on this sort of thing, thanks! Why, one woman offered me a large sum of a oney to take her. No darn fear ' ‘I suppose the reason for this trip i- research, Mr Smythep’ T asked. iorrectly. “He grinned, 'No, it isn’t. It’s just the fun of t.lio thing. They said the Scott show was exploration for s. icr-t-ific purposes; but, believe mo, it was really because they wanted to get there.’ "‘Oh!’ I said, lamely. “‘But don’t ' nothing behind it,’ said Mr Take these points. J.t’s time ;ot a move on. It’s years since wc did anything in this line. “ ‘The real reason, 1 suppose, is this: If we beat Ramet, Everest should be easy.’ j “But. ...” ' “ ‘Everest is a humbug’, laughed Mr Srrivtlie. ‘lt is the easiest of the lot! Why, Kaiiclianjauga is much more difficult, with the avalanches and sheer cliffs. It is climatic conditions that make Everest difficult. Five breaths to every step, The actual climbing is easy. And Everest will come next.’ “Mr Smythe’s equipment for this trip consists largely of peiiimican, half a dozen words of Hindustani and three or four four-ounce sweaters.”