Rescue helicopter plucks two men from Pisa Range
Emergency services and rescue volunteers are warning backcountry hikers to stick to their capabilities, know the terrain and carry a reliable communications device after two Queenstown men had to be rescued from near the top of the Pisa Range on Saturday evening (11 October).
Constable Amanda Shute says the Police received a 111 cellphone call just before 7.45pm from two local men who’d become stuck on a mountain ridge on the steep and challenging hike up Tinwald Burn Ridge Track, near the top of the Pisa Range which has an elevation of about 1740m.
“The two men were unable to move from their location due to slippery ice and had already suffered scrapes from previous tumbles,” Shute says. Police were able to send a mobile locator message to their mobile phone which provided the coordinates for their exact location, she says.
An Otago Southland Rescue Helicopter was sent to retrieve them as they were unable to make their own way down safely.
Chief executive of HeliOtago, which operates the rescue helicopters, Graeme Gale says it was snow-covered, mountainous terrain up where the pair were, up near the top of the range. “I understand they needed to be picked up due to the conditions at the time. They got into strife and needed to be lifted out. They couldn’t get out,” he says.
Darkness fell while Police kept in contact with the pair, who were located at around 10pm.
St John Ambulance teams were notified of the callout at 8.15pm but a spokesperson says the pair were uninjured.
Wakatipu Alpine Cliff Rescue Team members and Search and Rescue specialists have been warning backcountry hikers heading into the hills recently to take all the right precautions, especially with extended snowy conditions around the tops.
“Take the right equipment and make sure you’re experienced for the terrain you’re heading into,” Wakatipu Alpine Cliff Rescue coordinator Russ Tilsley says.
He advises carrying several reliable forms of communication, including either a personal locator beacon and/or inReach satellite device. “You can’t guarantee cellphone coverage in the mountains, especially up there, so carry at least two reliable forms of communication,” Tilsley says.
“Make sure your skill level and experience match the terrain you’re heading into and be sure you can cope with it,” he says. It’s also vital to carry the right equipment in case it’s needed.
Police are stressing the same message as summer approaches and more people plan adventures in the outdoors.
“It’s essential to pack extra food and water, stick with your group and carry a personal locator beacon,” a Police spokesperson says. “While a cellphone with sufficient battery is essential, you can’t always rely on having reception,” she says.
“Know the route and make sure you have the skills for it, check the forecast and prepare for bad weather and a possible unexpected night out, sharing your plans with a trusted person.”
