The Washington times., 1921-02-06

IAN they climb Mount Everest? VIII
explorers and scientists at last sue.
~ ceed in setting foot where man
has never been before-on the summit OF
the worlds highest mountain peak and
one of the last few spots on the earth's
surface to remain beyond our reach?
These questions are exciting world
wide interest since the recent announce
ment that the government of Tibet has
given the Alpine Club and the Royal Geo
graphical Society of England, permission
to hazard the lives of their members and
spend good sized fortune In the effort to
climb to what Is literally the TOP OF the
World" .... r
And what is most interesting Of all Is
the ingenious use which the climbers plan
to make of aeroplanes~ In their effort to
overcome the furious billiards. and other
Obstacles that make the ascent Of this giant
of the Himalayas such a hazardous and diff
ficult understanding.
IL these men do succeed In getting To
the top of Everest they will have accom-
coyery of either Of the Poles. Neither in
the,Arctic nor the Antarctic are more seri-
Gus difficulties thrown In the way OF ex-
plorers than here. II Nature had chosen
this lofty mountain peak as the hiding
place for its most precious secrets 1t
could hardly have done more TO prevent
mans ever getting access to them.
Approach to Mount Everest as we'll as
to many Of the other greatest peaks of
the Himalayas lies through Tibet, the
strange forbidden land" Until recently
foreigners were not permitted to cross
the boundaries of this country, and even
to-day they can do so only at great per-
sonal risk.
The people of Tibet have always shown
particular hostility to visitors who came
for the purpose OF attempting to explore
the Himalayas. The reason for this is
the widespread belief that the mountains
are the dwelling place of all sorts of evil
spirits and that for a man to think OF
death and worse. On this account ex.
plorers have always found the greatest
difficulty in securing the necessary native
helpers to carry out their plans.
Even to reach the base OF Mount Ever.
est where the ascent proper can begin.
Is a task to daunt the heart Of any bat
the most courageous OF explorers. For
miles In every direction the base Is sur
rounded by great glaciers and the cross
ing of these mighty ice fields is something
calling for the highest skill and endur-
ance.
The mountain itself is at least 29,000
feet-nearly six miles-higb For long
distances its sides rise almost perpendicu-
larly, gashed here and there by crevasses
Of appalling depth. Vegetation is OF the
scantiest and for the most part only BARI
rem rock shows through the glittering,
ages-old masses OF ice and snow that en-
crust this towering peak.
Tho height OF Mount Everest would
proscut n serious problem to human be.
ings, even IL there ere q flight Of stairs
running clear TO the TOD. The highest
altitude ever reached by mountain climb
crs Is about q mile less than the estimated
height of Everest and this was reached
only with dangerous attacks Of what Ia
called mountain sickness" Some SCI
eutists are of the opinion chat tho man
does not live who can endure the strain
OF climbing the preslpltous sides of this
peak In the rarehtc 81 found at three,
four, FIVE and more miles ab~ye sea level
But the biggest obstacle 10 q g way OF
mans conquest OF the work. q highest
mountain peak does not lie IA its height
or In the mighty glaciers wb ch shut Il in
or In the lack OF foothold e., It's icecovered
sides, dropping away almost perpendicu.
larly for thousands Irfeet. What explorers
fear most Of a ~ ika terrific billiards
which perpetuah- rege around It's summit
or down It's sIder.
Seen from the valley below, the start "
ope Of these mJuntalu storms looks cx.
aclly like q little pun Of cigar smoke
blown from tho mountain. In a few sec.