Baruntse Winter Ascent. As we go to press, we receive news of the first winter ascent of Baruntse by a Japanese expedition from Hokkaido led by Kazuo Hayashi. After an approach up the Barun Glacier, they set up Base Camp at 16,350 feet on December 1. They climbed the southeast ridge. Camp IV at 22,000 feet was established on December 13. On December 15 Jun Hamana, Koichi Ikenaga, Osamu Hanai, Akiya Ishimura and two Sherpas reached the summit. (See Iwa To Yuki, N° 80, page 107.)