Sunrise climb ends in ice death

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 14, Issue 685, 6 May 1997, Page 1

Sunrise climb ends in ice death

A moonlight climb to see the sunrise from the summit of Ruapehu turned to tragedy for three Massey University students on Sunday. Victoria Jane Morrow, 20, slipped 50 metres from the summit on Gliding Gladys and slid more than a kilometre (and 800 vertical metres) to her death, at about 5.45am. A second climber also slid some way and received severe bruising and facial lacerations. The third managed to get back to the Giant Cafe and raise the alarm. The trio had left Palmerston North on Saturday night, driving directly to the mountain, then starting their climb. They stopped to rest for about 90 minutes at the Giant Cafe before heading for the summit. Broken legs On Saturday afternoon, two people were also flown to hospital after sliding 60m on ice, also on the Turoa side,

near the High Noon T-Bar. One, a 30-year-old Auckland woman, suffered multiple arm and leg fractures, while her male companion also suffered a fractured leg. They used a cell-phone to call for help. The Trans Rail Rescue helicopters, one from Taupo and one from Palmerston North, attended both incidents. Some were lifted off on stretchers on long-line strops by the Taupo machine, to the car park. They were then loaded into the helicopters for the flight to Palmerston North. Waiouru police constable Crispin Lee, Waimarino Search and Rescue adviser Bruce Mazengarb, and Turoa mountain manager Mike Bayens were among those involved in Sunday's incident. Police constable Stu Ngati said while the weather conditions were perfect, the snow conditions were dangerous. Turn to Page 2

Sunrise climb ends in ice death

FROM PAGE 1 He said the parties were well-equipped, with crampons and each party had an ice axe, but that it was unclear if all the members of the parties were experienced in their use. A Turoa staff member said the whole mountain is treacherous at present, with a slick ice crust on all snow slopes. "These rescues once again highlight the need for

people intending to climb the mountain to have appropriate gear, know the weather forecast and in all cases exercise extreme caution," said Waimarino Police. • A 61-year-old Matamata man was flown to Wanganui by the Trans Rail Rescue Helicopter on Saturday. He was out duck shooting on a Parapara Highway property , when he fell and broke his leg.