DR. LINDSAY STEWART

Last year [1977] the Southland Section [of the New Zealand Alpine Club] was pleased to record that Life Membership had been conferred on Dr Lindsay Stewart for his many years of effort both to N.Z. mountaineering and to the Club.

Lindsay joined the Club in 1934, becoming a full member in 1938. Since that time he has filled many positions, from Section Committee member, Secretary, Treasurer and Chairman, to Section Representative. He was [NZ Alpine] Club President from 1955 to 1957.

Lindsay's early climbing days were mostly in the Darrans. In the 1930's any big trip into this region was a major event entailing some exploration.

Lindsay recorded many "firsts" which include:


• Barren Peak and Mt Cosmos (in the Humbolt Range) in 1935
• Unnamed Peak [now Mt Gifford] at the head of Moraine Creek in 1936
• Sentinel Peak, Twin Peaks, Revelation Peak, Taiaroa Peak, first traverse of the Korako Glacier, and first exploration of the Te Puoho Glacier in 1937
• Mt Underwood, Te Wera, and Karetai in 1938
• Patuki in 1939
• Tutoko (South East face) in 1952, and
• Crosscut (first ascent of Cirque Creek face) in 1967.

In the Cook region, with his son Richard, Lindsay made the first "Father and Son" Grand Traverse of Mt Cook in 1962. Many trips were also made into the Remarkables and Nevis area with most of the valleys being explored at some stage.

The Southland Section in 1960 was the first to send an expedition to the Andes. Lindsay was a member of this party and was one of the successful summit team to climb Nevado Cayesh. This entailed a night out at 5500 metres standing in a snow cave as the summit was not reached until four in the afternoon.

This expedition also attempted the East ridge of Huascaran and Lindsay again played a prominent part. During a reconnaissance of the ridge with Lynn Crawford an unsuccessful bid for the summit was made with the pair spending two nights out at over 5500 metres sharing only two bars of chocolate between them. This set-back did not deter Lindsay at all, who was still keen as ever to carry on. However, with Lynn's frostbite and time being short, a retreat to Base was called.

1970 saw Lindsay down in the Antarctic with one of the late Bill Bridge's parties instructing in snowcraft and survival.

July 1958 was the inaugural meeting of the Fiordland National Park Board. Lindsay has served on this board since that time [until 19xx], helping to guide the park to what it is today. His reappointment to the Board this year shows that his keenness and devotion to the park has not gone unnoticed.

In 1968 our local National Mountain Safety committee formed with Lindsay being nominated to the position of Chairman. He held this post until his retirement [in 19xx].

Lindsay has contributed articles to the N.Z. Alpine Journal, Mountain Rescue Handbook and FMC publications on mountain medicine.

As can be seen, life Membership of the Alpine Club does not come easily.

--- Dick Wood