Couple rescued from Mt Ruapehu in dead of night
‘Intense weather’ closing in as couple found
Ayoung couple lost on a hazardous section of Mt Ruapehu in “intense weather” were guided down the mountain at night by a team of rescuers.
The couple had left the Iwikau Village carpark about 8.30am on Sunday to walk to the crater, hoping to arrive about midday. They planned to be off the mountain by the time bad weather set in, Ruapehu search and rescue coordinator Constable Mark Bolten said.
Upon their arrival at the crater lake, the weather had already started turning, with fog and torrential rain.
“Intense” weather events around the district had already caused severe flooding and slips in some places, and forced the couple off the track when visibility became extremely poor, Bolten said.
After walking for several hours, the couple realised they had lost their path altogether, and called police for help. Rescuers were able to pinpoint their position, by cellphone use, in a hazardous area with cliff faces and now-flooded streams.
The Ruapehu Alpine Rescue Organisation (Raro) said the pair were
on the eastern side of Pinnacle Ridge in the upper Wairere catchment.
Bolten received the report about 7.40pm and assembled a team of volunteers from Raro. About 11pm, as the skies started to clear, the team found the pair cold, wet, and “very fatigued”.
“Due to the conditions the only option off the mountain was to assist the pair on foot,” Bolten said.
“They were provided with warm, dry clothing, food, and drink.
“After a very slow and painful walk assisted by the volunteers, they arrived safely off the mountain
around four hours later.” The couple were uninjured. Bolten said it was “essential to be prepared”, and provided some tips for those heading out on a hike in an alpine environment.
Before you go for a tramp or walk, let family and/or friends know where you’re going, and when to expect you back. You can also use Mountain Safety Council’s free planning app Plan My Walk to leave your intentions. Alternatively, leave a date and time to raise the alarm if you haven’t returned using the Outdoors Intentions form.
Have an emergency locator beacon, available from outdoor stores or hired from your closest DoC centre.
Pay attention to weather forecasts.
Research the area and know what you’re getting yourself into.
Have the correct clothing for the environment.
Remember, it is never too early to turn back.
Meanwhile, in the Tararua Ranges, the Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) helped extract an injured tramper over the weekend.
A solo tramper with a dislocated hip activated his personal locator beacon at Dorset Ridge on Saturday morning.
Maritime NZ’s Rescue Coordination Centre coordinated the search, with poor weather conditions hampering plans to winch someone down or even locate the tramper.
Instead, the RNZAF’s helicopter team picked up a three-person ground search team from Masterton and flew them into the valley about 1km from the tramper’s location.
Two hours later the ground search team found the man, who could not move and was in significant pain.
As the weather improved, the NH-90 craft was able to fly in and winch down an RNZAF medic. They administered pain relief then winched the man onto the helicopter.
The tramper was flown to Masterton and taken by ambulance to hospital.