Deaths of experienced climbers ‘devastating’
The pair of New Zealand climbers who died after falling while traversing a ‘‘climber’s Mecca’’ in Fiordland were ‘‘experienced and competent’’ mountaineers.
New Zealand Alpine Team (NZAT) member Steve Fortune, of Queenstown, said the deaths of team members Conor Smith and Sarwan Chand were ‘‘a shocking event that makes us think about what you are doing’’.
‘‘But at the moment we are mourning the loss of our friends.’’
The pair were climbing in the Darran Mountains in Fiordland when they attempted a route on the south face of Marian Peak.
Fortune had climbed the Darran Mountains, but not the south face of Marian Peak, which was ‘‘a remote and challenging climb’’.
While details of the fatal fall were not yet known, NZAT said in a statement that ‘‘the leader fell before being able to place gear after the belay’’.
‘‘This resulted in a factor two lead fall, pulling the team off the wall.’’
Fortune said members were ‘‘trying to find out what happened’’. ‘‘It was an unusual accident to happen . . . and there are a number of possible reasons why that have occurred and we don’t really know why.
‘‘It is not something that happens very often.’’
Smith and Chand joined the NZAT in late 2015.
‘‘They were both well liked and respected members of our team,’’ an NZAT spokesman said. ‘‘They were experienced and competent mountaineers with many successful ice and alpine ascents.
‘‘To lose two of our friends and teammates together in this way is devastating for us. Our thoughts are with their family and friends.’’
Smith was a former Tai Poutini Polytechnic Outdoor Education student and in March told the tertiary provider what it meant to be selected for the NZAT: ‘‘To me it’s also about spending my time with like-minded people that have more experience and skills that they can pass on.’’
‘‘... climbing is a really personal thing; I’m not really interested in guiding or teaching other people at this stage. It’s something I do for me and I want to push myself mentally and physically.’’
Chand’s NZAT profile said the former Canterbury man studied at Lincoln University and enjoyed climbing, running, mountain biking and snowboarding, and ‘‘from a young age spent time tramping and doing trans-alpine trips in Arthurs Pass and Westland’’.