Woman Mountaineer (Evening Post, 4 October 1935)

Miss Freda du Faur, an influential figure in the climbing community and the first woman to reach the summit of Mount Cook, has passed away in Deewhy, Australia, her homeland. As reported by the Christchurch "Star-Sun" on 4 October 1935, she was the daughter of the late Eccleston F. du Faur, who served for many years as the president of the National Art Gallery in Sydney.

Her passion for climbing was ignited during a visit to the Christchurch Exhibition in 1908, where she first learned about the Southern Alps. In her own words, she expressed the profound impact that mountains had on her, stating that those who reside in mountainous regions often cannot comprehend the feeling of longing that a hill-lover from a flatland experiences upon seeing mountains for the first time.

Miss du Faur chronicled her journey and experiences in her book, "The Conquest of Mount Cook," although it notably lacks a photograph of herself. Her initial attempt to summit Mount Cook in 1909, accompanied by Peter Graham, was unsuccessful. However, they achieved success on December 3, 1910, along with Alex Graham.

During her ascent, she recounted the challenging conditions on the mountain, describing how the frigid temperatures caused her fingers to stick to the ice, which was a shocking and unpleasant sensation. She vividly remembered the struggle as they overcame an icy couloir before finally reaching the ice cap, where they encountered wind-blown ice formations. Peter Graham, her climbing partner, cut steps for over 200 feet straight up the summit, and they shifted to softer snow to make their final push. Miss du Faur, weighing only eight stone, was sent forward alone on the rope to reach the summit first. Once at the top, she reflected on the solitude of the moment, feeling isolated and emotional while waiting for her companions to join her. They spent two hours atop the summit, celebrating their remarkable achievement.

Freda du Faur's contributions to the world of mountaineering and her pioneering spirit have left a lasting legacy, particularly for women in the climbing community.

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