Waiouru climber scales Everest

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 9, Issue 437, 19 May 1992, Page 1

Waiouru climber scales Everest

A Waiouru man has become one of a handful of New Zealanders to reach the summit of Mt Everest. Guy Cotter, a civilian instructor employed at the Waiouru Army Adventurous Training Centre, climbed to the summit of Mt Everest on 12 May. He was among an international party of 14 and helped guide with two well-known climbers Garry Ball and Rob Hall. It was his first attempt to reach the summit of Everest. He has had experience climbing in Pakistan having climbed Uli Biaho, which is shorter than Everest by 2700 metres, but is a more technically difficult climb. He has also climbed on Mt McKinley in Alaska which was similar to Everest in that it offers high altitude climbing.

Before departing for the expedition Guy said he thought about seven other New Zealanders had reached Everest's summit. The final group to reach the summit included the first representatives from Hong Kong and Israel and the first woman Everest climber from Belgium. In a message from the mountain Hall and Ball said the 14 climbers left their camp at 8000m on Tuesday at 7.30am New Zealand time and reached the summit in several groups between 5pm and 6.30pm New Zealand time. The weather on the summit was cloudy but warm, with no wind. Guy took a Army Adventurous Training Centre flag to plant on the summit, but as yet it is not known if he managed to place it there.