Africa, Ruwenzori

Publication Year: 1933.

Ruwenzori: The Belgian expedition to this range this past summer found very favorable weather, having had several fairly clear days, and as a consequence were able to draw an accurate map and determine the altitudes of the peaks. A number of ascents were made and some very fine photographs obtained. On June 3rd, 1932, Moebius, 16,154 feet, was climbed by Count Xavier de Hemricourt de Grunne and Jean de la Vallée-Poussin from the west. On July 13th, X. de Grunne, P. Solvay, W. J. Ganshof van der Meersch, H. de Schryver, with Joseph Georges of Evolena ascended the Punta Margherita, 16,810 feet, by a new route up the Alexandra glacier, and descended over the Punta Alexandra, 16,742 feet. The next climb was Kraeplin, 15.718 feet, which was ascended July 23rd by W. Ganshof, X. de Grunne, Lt. Marlier, P. Solvay, J. de la Vallée-Poussin, and J. Georges. Five days later, this same group with the exception of Lt. Marlier and P. Solvay made the first ascent of the unnamed peak northwest of the Punta Margherita, by the northwest rock ridge and christened it the Pointe Albert, 16,728 feet. On August 1st, de Schryver and Ganshof with the guide Georges made a new route up the east face of the Punta Helena, 16,341 feet, a very difficult climb. The same day X. de Grunne with Dr. Noel Humphreys, who was visiting the expedition in their camp, made the ascent of the Pointe Albert and the Punta Margherita. Ganshof, Michot, de la Vallée-Poussin and Georges traversed the entire Speke ridge traversing the Punta Victor Emanuel.