Rescuers warn hikers of Ben Lomond avalanche risk

Backcountry rescue experts are concerned for the safety of any recreational hikers heading up the likes of Ben Lomond at present with a real threat of mini avalanches if they venture out onto snow-covered cornices.

A local teenage boy doing the climb during the past week was understood to have set off a small avalanche and with so much snow up there this spring that was highly likely, Wakatipu Alpine Cliff Rescue Team co-ordinator Russ Tilsley says. Fortunately, he wasn’t injured, but it’s territory that people need to be well prepared for at present before they take it on, with experience and the right skills, he says.

A local helicopter pilot also saw footsteps out onto a thick snow cornice on the mountain that had broken and was concerned enough to fly back and double check that nobody had fallen, Tilsley says. “Luckily, everything was okay.”

“You need experience to go up there, especially with these late snowfalls we’re having now. It doesn’t take a big avalanche to knock someone off a cliff, or for them to fall off a cornice like that,” he says.

There are plenty of snow cornices building up over big cliffs on the Queenstown (east) side of the mountain, so people need to be very careful, Tilsley warns. 

“It could be a little slide that takes you off your feet and over a cliff. There are some steep, slippery slopes and they freeze up there.”

At the least people need to take an ice axe and crampons at present, and several reliable forms of communication so that they can be contacted, along with proper warm clothing.

“Just be aware that you need the right experience and skills to negotiate that peak,” he says.

Ben Lomond is becoming increasingly popular with literally hundreds of people up there a day during summer, some walking from Skyline to the Saddle (1316m) and the rest climbing to the top at 1748m.

Tilsey says he’d like to see a sign warning of the possible avalanche danger at present, especially with the pilot having spotted footprints. “People have been walking up there.” There’s also always the constant

lure to get a good social media photo too so it’s important to warn people. 

Many of these people are backpackers who may not be aware of the dangers, but locals need to be aware too, he says.

“With the way the weather patterns are now we’re getting more snow in spring than we did all winter,” Tilsley says.

“It might be spring but there’s still lots of snow up there. If you slide on that east side, you’ll go a long way.”