Graham Peter

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Biografie:
PETER GRAHAM.
Peter Graham, by universal consent the greatest of New Zealand mountaineers, died at Waiho on April 7 at the age of eighty-two. He was the last survivor of that gifted band who did so much to reveal the glories of the Central Southern Alps at the beginning of the century. Born a few miles from the Franz Josef glacier, he acquired his first interest and skill in the mountains in the company of Dr. Teichelmann and Canon Newton on the West Coast. His reputation grew and in 1903 he was invited by the Tourist Department to join the staff at the Hermitage. In 1906 he became Chief Guide in succession to Jack Clarke, and occupied that responsible position till 1922. During those busy years he made in all thirteen ascents of Mt. Cook itself, a record only recently surpassed by Harry Ayres; they included the first traverse from east to west in 1906, the first ascent by Earle's route from the Hooker in I gog, and the first Grand Traverse of the three peaks in I9I3 with the Australian girl, Miss du Faur, who also accompanied him on the second ascent of Tasman, the first traverse of Sefton and the first ascent of Dam pier. Her book, The Conquest of Mt. Cook, is a lasting monument to his merits and virtues as guide and man. As Chief Guide he exercised a benevolent but autocratic control over every mountaineering activity. He established a tradition of superb icemanship and above all of safety in the mountains.
In all his innumerable expeditions he never had an accident. He trained many good guides and won their lifelong devotion. In 1922 the Government decided to cut its losses and leased the Hermitage to a private Company. Peter disliked the change and returned to Waiho to join his brother, Alex, as joint proprietor of the Glacier Hotel, which over the years their genius transformed into one of the best in the country. There was, however, still one notable mountaineering achievement in store for him, when in 1924 Samuel Turner after five unsuccessful campaigns against the formidable Mt. Tutoko in the far south implored Peter to accompany him for one last try. This he did, and led Turner to the summit at the first attempt.
Thereafter he became an almost legendary figure, with a vast knowledge of all the history of that Golden Age, in which he himself had played so conspicuous a part. It was a delight to spend an evening with him, studying his unique collection of photographs and absorbing his fascinating stories of various episodes in his career, the most famous of which was the mysterious business of the ghost in the Hooker hut.
A man of magnetic personality, happy in his wife and family and in his life-work, he won the admiration and affection of a host of friends among his own countrymen and the very many overseas climbers, to whom he acted as guide and in later years as host at Waiho.
H. E. L. PORTER.
Quelle: Alpine Journal Volume 66, 1961, Seite 386-387


Geboren am:
1879
Gestorben am:
07.04.1961