Skiing climbers do it right

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 12, Issue 548, 9 August 1994, Page 2 (Supplement)

Skiing climbers do it right

Waiouru police had "a bit of excitement" last Wednesday when three Wellington men were reported overdue from a skiing and alpine climbing trip on Mount Ruapehu. Police Constable Dale Jenkins said the trio entered TongariroNational Park via Tukino Skifield on the eastern side of the mountain, intending to spend four days climbing, snow caving and skiing, planning to be off the mountain on the Tuesday. "They were reported missing on Wednesday morning and skied out of Whakapapa at 5.30 Wednesday night." Mr Jenkins said white-

out conditions and high winds on the plateau where the men were snow caving prevented them coming off the mountain as planned. "They stayed where they were which was the best thing to do. In the opinion of the police they did the right thing." The men spotted a break in the weather and skied out of Whakapapa on the western side of the mountain rather than returning to their vehicle at Tukino. "The weather cleared about 3.00pm on Wednesday and they got out of there the quickest way they could," said Mr Jenkins. Two of the three men were reported to be experi-

enced alpine climbers but police still had to establish what sort and how much equipment they were carrying. "I'd advise people going

on to the mountain to leave full details of intentions and equipment carried with one person, either a member of the police or next of kin." Mr Jenkins said that if

people did this, in the event of an emergency, only one person would need to be contacted to establish how well equipped people were for the conditions.