AMBIMK Bulletin Vol 14. No. 2, JUNE 1996 Antarctic Contents Page # Editor's Note. International Rob Hall: Eminent Adventurer. Russian Expedition Cover: Rob Hall atop Vinson Cape Roberts Update Massif looking towards the West Antarctic ice sheet. National Programs Photo courtesy of Hall and Ball Collection. Hedgehog House. New Zealand Australia United States of America Sub Antarctic Tourism Report General Volume 14, No. 2, The Ozone Depletion: A Reply Jim Collins Award Issue No. 157 An Antarctic.Bibliography Footnote to Byrd Salvage Attempt... ANTARCTIC is published quar terly by the New Zealand Tributes Antarctic Society Inc., ISSN Newly Named Features 0003-5327, Editor: Greg Williamson Commemorate Society Members Please address all editorial inquiries and contributions to the Editor, I' O Box 404, Book Reviews Christchurch or Books by Phillip Law, telephone 03 365 0344, facsimile 03 365 4255, David Harrowfield, Gerald Doorly e-mail and Shelagh Robinson [email protected]. Antarctic Editor's Note Antarctic would like to express our grati return a copy of the March issue to the tude for the many messages of support National Secretary. He has some replace and appreciation received subsequent to ments that may be of slightly better qual recent content and presentation changes. ity. We will endeavour to continue improv A further apology is due for the late ing the appearance and content of the ness of this issue which was held back to publication and welcome any feedback. include breaking news on "Antarctica We would also like to apologise for the New Zealand", the Crown entity that poor print quality of the March 1996 will manage New Zealand's Antarctic issue, particularly its cover. Antarctic involvement (see page 50). now has a new printer and we are sure you will have noticed the improvement. Greg Williamson Members are advised that they can Editor INTERNATIONAL Rob Hall: Eminent Adventurer (14 January 1961 —12 May 1996) Antarcticans are no strangers to disaster eight person expedition from New and death, danger being an inherent part Zealand, the United States, Japan, Nepal of working on the continent. That does and Australia. nothing to lessen the shock and pain for Rob Hall's Antarctic involvement goes his friends and family of losing a man like back to the summer of 1983/84 where he Rob Hall. It is simply tragic that the man worked for the New Zealand Antarctic who was to write an account of his latest Programme as field assistant/instructor expedition to the Antarctic for this journal with the Survival School, now known as is instead being eulogised. Antarctic Field Training. Lindsay Main Although the words and pictures was the leader of the unit and Ken West offered here can only give the barest the other assistant. sketch of man whose achievements During the season Rob also assisted the reached the heights of the peaks he con IMESS study on Mt Erebus but was medi- quered, Rob Hall's contribution to the vaced to McMurdo after becoming dehy Antarctic demands recognition. drated. He recovered rapidly and finished On 12 May 1996 Rob Hall died on Mt the season at Scott Base. Everest having tried to save the life of a The following season he was employed struggling member of his expedition as the Leader of Survival Training assisted party, US postal clerk and climbing fanatic by Paul O'Doud, Paul Bayne and Peter Doug Hansen. The pair were part of an Sampson. Rob received a citation from the 42 JUNE 1996 Antarctic Eddie and Millie Hall. He was educated at Xavier College (now Cathedral College). He excelled as a designer and manufac turer of quality outdoor equipment work ing for Alp Sports and Macpac before starting his own company "Outside Equipment". During these years in the late 1970s early 1980s Rob climbed actively in the Southern Alps thriving on a traverse from Arthur's Pass to Mt Cook and making the first winter ascent of Mt Cook's Caroline Face and Black Tower. Rob took part in two Himalayan expe ditions before the age of 20, reaching the summits of Ama Dablam and Numbur. Then followed his Antarctic experience. Climbing in the mountains of Asia dominated the next decade of Rob's life, involving him in some 20 expeditions. At Scott Base, Courtesy of Colin Monteath, Rob would wish to be remembered as the Hedgehog House. first New Zealander to climb K2 (after 4 expeditions), Makalu and Lhotse. He also US Navy for his efforts in the rescue of a climbed Cho Oyu twice and made Seabee bulldozer operator caught in a attempts on Annapurna, Dhaulagiri and whiteout near Williams Field in October Gasterbrum I and II. In 1989 Rob and Gary of 1984. Ball received a Nepalese award from the Rob Hall's other Antarctic involvement Himalayan Rescue Association for their includes work in the Ellsworth Mountains part in a difficult rescue on the north side with New Zealand geologist Paul of Everest. After climbing Everest for the Fitzgerald, involvement in a US expedi first time in 1990, Rob and Gary went on tion to Vinson Massif and subsequent pri to complete the "Seven Summits" (highest vate expeditions to the Antarctic's highest peak on each of seven continents) in a peaks. remarkable seven month odyssey. For this "Rob Hall was a gentle and graceful they each received the New Zealand 1990 man who reached out to profoundly Commemoration Medal. Rob organised touch the lives of many people around the eight expeditions to Mt Everest, reaching globe. Now at rest on south summit of Mt the summit five times. In 1994, Rob was Everest Rob's presence among us will be awarded an MBE for services to moun sorely missed," says longtime friend, col taineering as a professional adventurer league and fellow Antarctican Colin and mountaineer. Monteath. "Rob, along with Gary Ball, helped to Rob, the youngest of nine children, bring mountaineering to the New Zealand grew up in Christchurch with his parents people, says Colin Monteath. For a coun- JUNE 1996 Antarctic t r y t h a t p r o d u c e d Sherpa, client, fellow Edmund Hillary we guide and the many knew precious little Kiwis who trekked about mountaineering with him in Nepal. until Hall and Ball fired As a leader and the collective imagina diplomat Rob helped tion with their incredi influence Nepali and ble "Seven Summits". I Pakistani govern Vinson Massif in ment departments to Antarctica was the 7th modify climbing reg peak, completed just 10 ulations and help hours before the dead minimise environ line. The others were mental impact. New Mt Everest (Asia), . Zealand has a lost a M t M c K i n l e y ( N t h ' great ambassador," America), Mt Elbrus says Colin Monteath. At thethe South South Pole, Pol Courtesytesu of theof Hallthe and Hall Ball and Ball J „,.„ ., „ , ( E u r o p e ) , M t While all of us _..,. ,. , , ... CollectCollection, ioi Hedgehogehog House. House. Kilimanjaro (Africa) Mt who knew Rob will Kosciuko (Australia) and Mt Aconcagua miss him greatly, we will continue to be (Sth America). inspired by the way he lived his life and After Gary Ball's death in 1993 on shared his dreams." Nepal's Mt Dhaulagiri, Rob continued Peter Hillary, another friend and climb their company Adventure Consultants, ing companion, had this to say about Rob guiding many people safely to the sum Hall in a media article: "Rob Hall was a mits of Everest, Aconcagua, Vinson generous man and fine citizen. Even as an Massif, Carstensz Pyramid and Cho Oyu. eminent adventurer and mountaineer, he "Rob was a meticulous organiser of remained approachable and mature. Few complex international expeditions — a walk with the mantle of fame and remain superb motivator and inspiration to true to themselves." Russian Expedition a Success "It was long Feodor's dream to go to the 135 kg sledge. South Pole," says expedition co-ordina- Fighting against the rigours of deep t o r B o r i s Tc h m y k o v o f F e o d o r frost and strong winds he arrived at the Konuhov's combined South Pole and South Pole on 5 January this year. Nine climb of Vinson Massif, "after his solo days later he arrived at the peak of the expedition to the North Pole in 1990 he 5128 metre Vinson Massif. decided to go to the Antarctic. And he Konuhov lost 12 kgs in the process. did it." For good measure the expedition then Konuhov's expedition started on 8 returned to Chile and climbed the South November 1995, leaving Gerhules Ice Hemisphere's highest peak, Aconcagua. Bay headed for the South Pole pulling a Konuhov's next venture will be in the Antarctic staff of the English expedition to Exploration Background the North Magnetic Pole, under royal direction. 1986: A journey to Baffin Land, Canada. 44 year old Konuhov, married 1988: Participated in an international with two children, hails from the transarctic ski expedition from Russia Russian Far East — the Primorsky to the North Terminal to Canada. area, Nahodka, Vrangler Bay. 1989: (Spring) First solo ski expedition to the The multi-skilled Konuhov is a North Terminal Master of Sport, captain of a yacht 1989: (Summer) Leader of the first joint and a recognised artist. Soviet-American transcontinental A member of the Russian artist's bicycle run from Nahodka to union, he is exhibited internation Leningrad ally and has sold works to many 1990: (Spring) First in the world to reach the private collectors and museums. North Terminal on ski alone from He has participated in more Siberia.