The Norfolk weekly news-journal. (Norfolk, Neb.) 1900-19??, 1910-05-06
MOUNT M'KINLEY
ASCENT DOUBTED
CHARLES SHELDON SAYS PUBLIC
SHOULD AWAIT MORE DETAILS.
SOME POINTS ARE INCREDIBLE

New Yorker Familiar With Region
About the Peak. Points Out That
Only One Of Fairbanks Expedition
Has Reported Its Success.
Charles Sheldon, big game sports
man and explorer Of New York city,
who for years has known Tom Lloyd,
Charles McGonnigle and w. X. Taylor,
three of the four men who, according
to Lloyd. reached the top of Mount
Mckinley OH April 3, declared the 9th.
er night that the public could we'll af-
ford to await fuller report of the
details Of the ascent before complete
acceptance Of the claim.
Mr.. Sheldon has hunted big game
and explored all through the Alaskan
country about the base of Mount Nc
Kinley. He said he was thus fully ac-
quainted with many Of the difficulties
which any party would have to sur
mount to reach the top Of this tallest
peak on the American continent.
~ think" said he ut Is due to Tom
Lloyd and the three others with him
to withhold Judgment as to the partial
statements transmitted from Fair
banks to the effect that they reached
the summit of Mount Mckinley. The
press reports contain so many asser-
lions that are not in accordance with
the facts that little reliance can be
placed on them. 1t Is not reasonable
to believe that the party had an ane.
roid barometer which would record an
altitude Of 20,5O0 feet with any degree
of accuracy. 1t is ridiculous to sug.
gest that trail was established to the
top of the mountain. 1t is ridiculous
to say that snowshoes were used most
of the way up the mountain.
Top of the Mountain a Double Summit
1T is reported that the flag they left
at the summit could be seen from the
would be an impossibility, since the
top of Mount Mckinley is a double
summit, consisting Of two ridges ex
tending east and west. The south
ridge, which is the eliminating peak
cannot be seen from the north.
THE leader of the expedition Ton
Lloyd. and also Charlie McGonnigle
and Billy Taylor, are personal friends
of mine, but | do not know Patterson
Lloyd Is perhaps sixty or more years
old. McGonnigle and Taylor are very
hardy young men, among the best dos
'mushers" in the country and thor
oughly familiar with winter travel
particularly in that district. None o
the three however knows anything
about technical mountain climbing
They have never seen an Alpine rop'
| or an ice ak and are not familiar will
technical mountaineering equipment.
Il have worked and travelled will
these three men in winter. feel quit
certain that, although they had beer
within a distance Of six or eight mile
Of the base of Mount Mckinley, non
| of them had been on the slope befor
the alleged ascent. | believe that tn
method they adopted to investigate
route of ascent in the spring with dog
Is the correct way to find a route t
the summit. and particularly along tn
eastern ridges where, the press re
ports imply, the ascent was made.
Difficulties of an Ascent Tremendous
The difficulties are tremendous, nc
so much the intense cold as the fac
| fhof t.illnus fn fnal UnnH RI
not grow within five or six miles G
the base of the mountain. and timbe
Is at least six miles distant and prof.
ably even farther from an approac
by the east ridges. This would nece!
state on extra amount of material fC
fuel.
THE difficulties Of an ascent are S
great that, though McGonnigle an
Taylor are courageous and capable {
enduring the cold and physical wor
great deal of public skepticism, pa
ticularly among those who are familis
with the hardships of mountain elm
ing, Is sure to exist.
Therefore II is clearly the duty
the press, both to the public and
these men. not 10 encourage full ere
Utility in the reports of the allegt
ascent until the facts and details a
authoritatively published, which W
enable us to form an intelligent jud
ment. Only Tom Lloyd apparent
brought out the report, the other mel
, bers Of the party having remained
the Kantishna district, $50 miles ava
! so we haven't their corroborative eV
dence."
Mr.. Sheldon went to this region
. 1906 for sport and exploration. spen
ing some time at the base Of Mou
Mckinley and on the slope. He we
? again in the summer Of 1907 and spe
a year there.
n A Mayors Bureau For "kieks."