Mr, Burdsall and Mr, Emmons, who were the atuveyors of the party, Spent six "weeks" surveying. the Minya Konka range of which 'Konka 4s the highest.peak Another month Was spent in reconnoitring the route ly" which the astault"om the peal should te made and great ease' had taken as the country MUgeed and it wns obvious that she climb was going to be a stiff pro: position.
Eventually on October 2, 1992, base camp was established at. 14 00'teet, besides the four foreigners there. Were ten' Tibetan porters cluded in the party. These porters, however, owing io." superstitious fears would not Ko above the snow Line, which was approximately 1 000" feet, and so. when. this height Wax renched. the four foreigners had to: carry on their" own bucks, Stores for the higher camps. The Highest camp, established. was at 21500 feet." Mrs Young then return ed' to the base camp to supervise the carry up of stores to " camp ch'was at the snow line October. 26," the. remaining three foreigners had concentrated at the highest camp and on October 27, all three rested as they meant to attempt. to conquer the mountain the following' day.
It was on the night of the 27th that "misfortune overtook Mr. Emmons, who while attempting to cut a frozen loaf of bread, the knife sped and cut his hand very badly: and's0 he Was unable to attempt to reach the summit on the following. day.
The Peak Conquered The other yo, Mr. Burdsall and Moore, left camp very early in arning on October 28 on their way to the summit, which they. reached in the afternoon. The American and Chinese flags wore erected on the summit and photos Were talon from the peak. Mount Konka wax found to be 24,000 feet high, and is the third highest mountain ever sealed by man, Mr, Emmons stayed in camp during the assault, but that night when the (we successful men had returned from their climb, Mr. Emmons found that his feet were frost. bitten. On October 29, the three start. ed down the mountain, but owing to the exhausted condition of Mr. Burdsall and Mr. Moore, Mr. Emmons detached Iwmself from the party and proceeded down on his own as he wanted to reach the base camp as quickly as possible and not stay above the snow line owing to the condition of his feet.
'At about 17,000 feet when it was getting dark, Mr. Emmons found that he was' unable to go on, and for the whole of the night he Te-mained exposed on the bare rocks with no protection except for his clothes., Fortunately, Mr. Young from the base camp''saw the three men returning from their assault on the peak" and he dispatched two eton porters to assist the party, and these two men found. Mr. Emmons on October 30. The Tibetans then carried him back lo the dose camp.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.