BBC News Online: UK

British climbers prepare to tame Low's Gully

An expedition mounted by the British Army in 1994 came close to disaster.

The new team has been training at Ingelton, in the Yorkshire Dales, for an assault in March, when they hope to become the first people to reach the bottom of the gully.

Thirty team members are training on English waterfalls 100 metres high. Low's Gully, a glacial scar that runs across the north face of South East Asia's highest peak, is 10 times deeper.

The team leader, Pat Gunson, who has twice climbed Everest, calls the mission "one of the last great adventures."

"Most things have been done," he said. "Even Everest - poor thing - has been demeaned by tourists trekking up it. It'll be a long, long while before they get tourists up and down Low's Gully."

Four years ago, a British Army expedition to the gully nearly ended in tragedy. Nine men were on the point of starvation when they were rescued by the Malaysian authorities after a three-week search.

There were disputes and even legal action following that trip, but one team member, now out of the Army, is returning with the new expedition. He believes they have a much better chance of success this time.

"We know to a certain extent what's down there. We're taking enough rope, we're taking enough bolts. All the team members are as fit as they can be," said Richard Mayfield.

It is expected to take 16 days and cost £100,000 to descend Low's Gully. Climbers will have to cope with extremes of temperatures and the team's clothing will contain high-tech sensors to monitor their reactions.

The Army team had managed to descend only about one third of the gully and the last part has never been seen from the ground.

Members of the new team will leave for Borneo in March. Among them will be doctors and paramedics determined to ensure that the British Army's previous failure to tame the ravine will not be repeated.

Internet Links

Sabah Tourism Promotion Corporation
Kinabalu Park

The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.

Summaries

In this section

Counting cost of benefit fraud
Red light for privatised trains
Faster justice for corrupt police
Policeman arrested after cannabis haul
Food Standards Agency for UK
Britain calls for EU ban on battery hens
British beef ban EC boost
British unions demands better deal for part-time workers (From Business)
Bassey wins court case
Shot Belfast policeman 'critical'
Pit bull attacks mourners
Seven-year director's ban for Venables (From Business)
Fast-track justice for World Cup hooligans (From Sport)
Branson denies lying about lottery 'bribe'
Funeral of catholic youth worker unites community
Tories embrace people power
UK unemployment at 17-year low
Di and Dodi film makers give lawyers the flick
'Cyberdads' on the button (From Sci/Tech)
Japanese Premier apologises to prisoners of war
Japanese offered Millennium Dome slots (From Business)
1,000 women recalled for breast screening
Hostels fail the homeless
Woodward supports suspected prop (From Sport)
Profit warning over ferry passenger lists
Mecca bingo hall drops name after Muslim protests

UK Contents

• Politics