Himalayan Holiday: New Zealand Himalayan Expedition 1953

1953 was a very important year for New Zealand and Mountaineering. Of course there were the achievements of Ed Hillary and George Lowe on Everest. But their success didn't happen in a vacuum; rather it was the culmination of mountaineering activity in New Zealand where both male and female climbers were raised on a diet of heavy packs and mountains not unlike the Himalayan giants. Mt Cook had its first all-female ascent in 1953 when Mavis Davidson, Sheila McMurray and Doreen Pickens came together to make a fine ascent on January 6. And there was the amazing expedition to Nepal by Athol Roberts, Maurice Bishop, Phil Gardner and Graham Mccallum. It was that trip that lasted 18 months and visited a large area of central Nepal never before seen by Europeans. The expedition made the first ascent of the 7000-metre peak Chamar, Phil Gardener made an invaluable botanical study and to cap off a remarkable adventure, they brought back with them a bear. New Zealanders have a great record in the Himalaya. The New Zealand Himalayan Expedition of 1953 was part of the very important foundation for this record of achievement.