Evening star., 1952-12-10
Mt. Everest Is Growing:
New CIimbinqs PIunned
Upward Thrust of Eurth's
Crust Pushes Peck Higher
By Thomas R. Henry

Mount Everest is getting taller.
The worlds highest mountain has
grown more than 600 feet from the
altitude officially accepted-establishe
by numerous precise measurements.
This official altitude is 29,O02 feet. It's
summit is now 29,610 feet above sea
level, according to DR.. Edouard Wyss-
Dunant leader of the Swiss expedition
which attempted to scale the height
last summer but which was driven back
by high winds which were strong
enough to pick up rocks and project
them like gunfire."
DR.. Wyss-Dunants observations at
New Delhi after the return Of the ex-
pedition are quoted in the quarterly
journal of the Explorers Club.
One member of the expedition, Ray
mond Lambert. came within 900 feet
of the summit when driven back by the
wind-f1red rocks. This is believed to be
the greatest height anybody has been
able to reach and return alive.
Accurate Measurements.
The expedition made it's triangulation
measurements during the ascent and
DR.. Wyss-Dunant believes the figure
given is accurate within few inches.
The growth of the mountain, he be-
lieves, is due to upward thrust in the
crust of the earth.
Last year British Explorer Eric Ship
ton reported from height of l6.50O
feet three-toed footprints in the snow
which apparently belong to some as yet
unknown animal. There are legends
OF the creature among the Nepalese
natives near the foot of the mountain.
They called it the "abominable snow
man" and said it eats yaks and children.
The Swiss DR.. Wyss-Dunant says,
observed exactly the same kind of foot
prints, oval in shape and of large size.
Il believe they are BEARS" he says.
I'm any case they walk on all fours
and leave tracks foot long"
Indian scientists confirm the observa-
ton that Everest constantly is growing
taller DR.. M. S. Kirschnan of the
Indian Geological Survey places it's
present altitude at 29,200 and believes
it is growing up at rate of about 2
feet year.
Mount Everest-the Chinese Com
munist government has just ordered
the name changed on all maps to
Chomolungma. the Nepalese term for
goddess mountain"-was discovered al
most exactly 100 years ago. It was
found by native computer engaged
in map-making program initiated by
Sir George Everest, the former sur
veyor-general of India, and was given
his name. 1t now has taken the place
OF the North and South Poles as the
goal OF explorers 1t has become a
symbol for the inaccessible.
Traffic Regulated.
AS a result the Nepalese government
has had to regulate traffic there. Only
one expedition year will be permitted,
lest the eager explorers get in each
others way.
Next year Mr.. Shipton will try again.
He has taken advantage of the break
by climbing Cho Oyo, 26,700-foot peak
18 miles west, of Everest, for the pur-
pose of surveying the region and carry
ing on research on high-altitude physi-
ology. A japanese expedition had ap-
piled for the 1858 date but the British
had priority
The French will be given a chance in
1854. If they fail, Shipton or some other
Englishman will get q chance to try
again. The practical climbing season
on Everest is so short that 1t Is not
feasible for more than one expedition In
the same year.
The Swiss expedition used oxygen at
the top of the climb. 1t is probable that
the oxygen apparatus will be completely
overhauled in the light of the experience
gained and that future expeditions will
have the benefit of the improvements.
nllrinO fho
reports OF mountains in the same gen.
eral area higher than Everest These
now have been almost entirely dis
counted. Reports are believed to be due
to optical illusions.