White Bluffs spokesman. [volume] (White Bluffs, Wash.) 1907-1938, 1931-08-13
prepared by the National Geographic
Society. Washington. D. CO


Society. Washington. D. CO.
CUNTS Kamet and Kinchin-
MI junga in the Himalayas have
L v Il taken the place of Mount
Everest this summer in the
Interest of the worlds mountain climb
ers. Mount Kamet, 25445 feet high.
was successfully scaled by British
party on June 81. Kinchinjunga, ~
BIS feet high, is now being attacked
by party of Germans
Heretofore Mount Famet has sell
dom been heard Of when the earth's
highest pinnacles are being discussed,
but nevertheless it is one of the select
little group of Asiatic peaks that push
up farther above sea level than noun
tains in any other part Of the earth.
Although it ranks thirtieth among the
amazing group Of mountain giants that
extend along the Himalaya chain and
into China, 1t is not greatly surpassed
in height by any of its fellows except
Everest. 29,002 feet high; Goodwin
Austen, 2s,250; Kinchinjunga, 27,s15;
Dhaulagiri. 26,S2S, and Gosai Than,
26,305. All of these super-giants
among mountains are in Nepal except
Goodwin Austen, which Is in northern
Kashmir
The peak Of Mount. Kamit
Is situated just stones throw
south of the Tibetan border, in
the United Provinces Of India. Near
by is Nanda Dew, which tops it by
less than 200 feet. These comparisons
boil down to the fact that Kamet is
the third highest mountain in the Brit
ish empire; and by virtue of this fact
It was considered we'll worth seri-
Gus attack by mountain climbers.
While Mounts Everest and Kinchin-
junga are near Darjeeling. hill capital
of Bengal. Mount Kamet is 600 miles
to the northwest near Simla. hill cap
ital Of India. 1t lies in the Carnival
district of the United Provinces, 100
miles due east Of Simla near the
eightieth meridian of longitude. This
area came into British possession in
1914 as result Of the Gurka war
with NepaD. This region consists of
maze of high peaks with extremely
deep valleys winding among them
The valleys and lower slopes are heav-
lily wooded.
How Mount kamet Is Reached.
The railhead used in expeditions to
Mount Kamet is at Kathgodam, in
the United Provinces, at the southern
edge Of the Himalayan foothills. From
there travel is overland through val
leys and up steep slopes to Ranikhet,
hill village comparable in location
to Simla. From Ranikhet the way
leads over rough country and across
a number Of deep river gOrges, to the
village of Niti at 10000 feet altitude.
From this point both yaks and coolie
bearers are used.
Although numerous attempts to
scale Mount Kamet have been made
since 1885. no one succeeded in reach
ing the summit until this summer.
The latest expedition prior to the one
that has Just scaled the peak was led
in 1920 by Dr. A. M Kellas. He
reached an altitude Of $4,000 feet, but
had to turn back because his native
assistants were suffering from noun
tain sickness.
On the slopes Of Mount Kamet Is
one Of the chief head-water glaciers
Of the Ganges river.
Kinchinjunga is bigger game for the
climber than Kamet. both
because OF it's extreme height and the
third highest mountain in the world,
reaching upward five and one-third
miles above sea level.
OF the three highest peaks-Everest.
Austen, and Kinchinjunga--
The latter is most inaccessible. II lies
IS miles north of Darjeeling in an air
line. hut the road that one must travel
across canyons. over ridges and around
peaks. is much longer.
Darjeeling has been Headquarters
for the several expeditions that have !
tried unsuccessfully to scale Kinchin.
junga in past years. Like Simla, 700
miles farther west, and Srinagar in
Kashmir. Darjeeling is godsend to
perspiring Europeans who must spend
the hot period in India But 1t is
more than cool retreat: It is a
natchless observation post. when the
clouds permit, for the mightiest noun.
ain scenery that the world affords. |
And the outstanding sight to the north
ward. across deep chasms and beyond
Her after tier of foothills, Is the
Mighty Kirchinjunga. buttressed by
lalf a dozen peaks from 10000 to
LOCO feet In altitude.