[English] SCOUTS' ESCAPE. FIGHTING A BLIZZARD IN THE ALPS.

SCOUTS' ESCAPE.

FIGHTING A BLIZZARD IN THE ALPS.

A graphic story of the escape from a blizzard on the heights of the Breithorn (13,685ft.), one of the highest Swiss peaks, of a party of 18 London Rover Scouts, under the leadership of Lieut.-Colonel G. S. Hutchison, was told by Mr. George Lymbury, the photographer to the party, on his return to London.

He said:-

Leaving Zermatt, the ascent was started and the Gandegg Hut reached without mishap late in the afternoon. Here a halt was called until after midnight, when we prepared for the exacting, final stretch of the climb, which, it was said, would take seven hours.

Our Swiss guides said the conditions were perfect. A clear moon was shining, but it was cold. The "going" was more difficult than we had anticipated owing to the snow, and it soon became necessary to rope the whole party.

Before we had gone very far we dumped our packs and left three of the lads who had shown signs of exhaustion to look after them.

TURNING BACK.

When within 1,500ft. of the top the sky became suddenly overcast. Low, heavy clouds blotted out the moonlight, and a hurried conference was held between the guides and Colonel Hutchison, as a result of which it was decided to turn back. But descending was even worse than the ascent, and every moment the wind and weather grew worse. We reached the dump, pausing only long enough to tie the three fellows we had left to our ropes, and continued our descent.

The storm broke a short while afterwards with full force. With a weird, high whistle, an icy wind struck our faces like a whip, and as we bent our bodies to escape, its force seemed to increase, carrying with it a horizontal blast of snow, hail, and ice which tore away our loose gear and hats.

The guide who was leading us walked almost on all fours. He forced his way through the storm and, with a wonderful sense of direction eventually reached a small hut, into which we tumbled or were pushed. There the whole of us lay, drenched to the skin and thoroughly exhausted.

Source:

1. Page 9, "China Mail", Saturday, 26th September, 14th Year of the Republic of China

   • 9th Day, 8th Lunar Month, Yi-chou Year

   • Saturday, 26th September, 1925 Common Era