THE EXPEDITION IN THE GARDENS OF THE BRITISH EMBASSY IN NEPAL, WHERE THEY MADE INITIAL PREPARATIONS, SHERPAS, FILLING CANS WITH HEATING PARAFFIN, LEAVING KATMANDU AIRPORT BY A NEPALESE DAKOTA FOR THE MOUNTAIN LANDING STRIP, AND 1960 AERIAL SHOTS OF THE HIMALAYAS.




Initials JT/VS/MGT/JG



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Background: A HIGH-FLYING BRITISH AIR FORCE MOUNTAINEERING TEAM HAS A HIGH-ALTITUDE GOAL THIS MONTH: THE SUMMIT OF THE 25,064-FOOT (7639-METRE) HIMALAYAN PEAK DHAULAGIRI IV. NEVER BEFORE BEEN CLIMBED, IT IS THE FIFTIETH HIGHEST MOUNTAIN IN THE WORLD. ON FRIDAY, THE NINE MEMBERS OF THE EXPEDITION FLEW TO A LANDING STRIP 10,000 FEET (3050 METRES) UP THE MOUNTAIN AFTER MAKING PREPARATIONS IN KATMANDU, THE NEPALASE CAPITAL.

THE EXPEDITION -- THE THIRD AIR FORCE ONE TO THE ROOF OF THE WORLD SINCE 1955 -- IS LED BY THE CHIEF OF THE ROYAL AIR FORCE MOUNTAIN RESCUE SQUAD, SQUADRON LEADER JOHN SIMS, A 40-YEAR-OLD VETERAN CLIMBER.

HOWEVER, THIS COULD BE THE LAST BRITISH ONE TO THE NEPALESE HIMALAYAS. BECAUSE OF LACK OF COMMUNICATION, THE NEPAL GOVERNMENT IS REPORTED TO HAVE SUSPENDED ALL MOUNTAINEERING, TREKKING AND AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY IN THE NORTHERN PART OF THE COUNTRY, WHICH BORDERS TIBET. DHAULAGIRI IS ABOUT 50 MILES (80 KMS) FROM THE BORDER.

THE APPLICATION FOR THIS EXPEDITION WAS GRANTED TWO YEARS AGO. TWO-HUNDRED PORTERS WILL BE USED, EACH LIMITED TO CARRYING 60 POUNDS (27.2 KGS) OF EQUIPMENT. MOST OF THEM WILL BE RECRUITED AFTER THE PARTY LEAVE THE LANDING STRIP AT DORPATAN FOR THE BASE CAMP, 15,000 FEET (4575 METRES) UP. THE TREK TO THE BASE CAMP WILL TAKE ABOUT A FORTNIGHT.