Man rescued above glacier – Bluffed on tiny ledge
Local rescuers are again urging backcountry explorers not to rely on information, comments and advice posted on social media before heading into the hills with Wakatipu specialist alpine rescuers called in yet again to help, this time on Rob Roy Glacier, near Wanaka.
Wakatipu Alpine Cliff Rescue Team team coordinator Karl Johnson says a 39-year-old Cromwell climber with limited experience got himself bluffed on a tiny ledge above the glacier and trapped, with no way out, activated his personal locator beacon around 6pm on Monday, 12 January.
Three cliff rescue experts flew in with the Otago Southland Rescue Helicopter in perfect weather and had the man off the mountain by about 8.30pm, Johnson says.
“He had some experience, but he wasn’t that familiar with the area, and I don’t think he’d done any proper planning or knew the exact route he should take,” Johnson says.
“He just got stuck on a rock ledge, 1m by 1m.”
Rescuers were lowered in about 30m to 40m above the man onto a snow slope on a col above him,” Johnson says. “It was a bit technical. We were worried that the downwash from the chopper would blow him off the ledge.
“One of our team put in a couple of anchors to abseil down so we could winch him out.”
The man was uninjured, but Johnson says it was just another example of why people should obtain the correct information from proper channels before attempting to climb or hike somewhere like that.
“Don’t rely on social media. Ensure you go to the proper sources,” he urges. “I understand there was a father recently asking on social media whether it was safe for his son to climb Mt Rolleston (Canterbury). Unfortunately, people who aren’t climbers and have no experience get on there and start scrolling and stirring and egging people on when they really have no idea what’s required.
“Use sites like the DOC website and ask people who are out in the environment and have recent information and experience, people like the Mount Cook Alpine Rescue Team, NZ Alpine Club or Mountain Safety Council,” he says. Even local guiding companies would be able to supply you with safe, accurate information.”
He says most of the rescues so far this summer have been due to people with no gear or limited skills. “Our team are all volunteers so for us that’s time away from our families and work,” he says.
