GLORIES OF EVEREST.

Taranaki Daily News, 24 September 1921, Page 6

GLORIES OF EVEREST.

GARDEN AND GLACIERS. London, Sept. 9. The following despatch, dated Kharta, August 17, has been received from the advance party of the Mount Everest expedition: —-We are continuing to investigate and map the eastern valleys of the approach to Everest. Kharta is 20 miles east from there. The peasants have a very vague knowledge of the means of approach, but they advised us to cross the passes and strike a valley leading up the mountain.

Mr. Bullock and Mr. Mallory left on August 2, and Colonel Howard Bury two days later. The path up the KhartaTsingpo Valley for seven miles is dotted with villages and monasteries, and skirted with barley 3ft. high. We reached the summit of Langmala, 18,000 ft. high, the scene from which was very beautiful. Three mighty glaciers were sweeping down 4000 ft. below. “Advancing, we descended to grassy uplands, covered with gentians and mauve asters. The mist then lifted, revealing the unforgetable beauty of the sunrise on the marvellous cliffs of Makalu, 27,800 ft., and Everest itself. This valley was green with junipers, willows, and mountain ash, ice and snow coming ''own and meeting the green vegetation. From the valley, Makalu is more beautiful and more striking than Everest. Its gigantic cliffs drop 1100 ft. on each side. They are perpendicular cliffs of black rock, and so steep that snow and ice are unable to lodge. VVe are now ascending the valley to Everest. We crossed grassy pastures here, and at Pethan-Gringmo, 16,400 ft., found shepherds and herds of yaks. “On August 10, Mr. Bullock and Mr. Mallory, who had gone forward, and the ■ next morning Colonel Howard Bury, explored the spur opposite Everest, and reached 19,400 ft. They secured a most glorious panorama of Everest, standing up in front of very formidable cliffs, which descend in a sheer drop of 2000 ft. on to glaciers, about which were Hanging glaciers. All day we heard the roar of great pieces of ice breaking off from them and crashing into the Kangshung Glacier below.

“Mr. Bullock and Mr. Mallory decided that it was impossible to ascend Everest from the east; they have now returned, and are exploring the Kharta Tsingpo Valley, following that river to its source. Colonel Howard Bury is examining the valleys round Makalu, and is meeting forests of silver fir and juniper, with lichens hanging from every bough, wild roses, and most luxuriant vegetation. A singular feature here is the number of whereas they are most rare in the Himalayas.”