Avalanche on Mt. Tasman in New Zealand

[catbirdseat]

The TV news originally said Mt. Cook, so I was concerned because some of our folks were heading down to New Zealand to climb it. They weren't involved, as it turns out.

 

"Avalanche Kills Four, Injures Two in New Zealand

Wed Dec 31, 1:13 AM ET Add World - Reuters

 

WELLINGTON (Reuters) - An avalanche swept six climbers off New Zealand's second highest mountain, killing four of them and injuring two, police said Wednesday.

 

The party of six was caught on Mount Tasman -- near Mount Cook, where the accident was initially reported to have taken place.

 

"Three people died at the scene and one later at Mount Cook village," police said in a statement.

 

The two injured climbers were airlifted to Christchurch Hospital for treatment.

 

"It is unknown what triggered the avalanche at this stage but inquiries into the cause of the accident will be made," the statement said.

 

Weather around the 11,476 foot mountain in the South Island was reported to be clear and sunny at the time.

 

Police said two of the dead were Australians and the rest of those killed and injured were New Zealanders. Initially they were all believed to be locals.

 

The mountain is just north of the country's highest peak, Mount Cook, and is one of the attractions in the 172,000 acre Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park with its 22 peaks, 15 of which are above 9,900 feet.

 

The accident takes the death toll from climbing accidents in the national park to 10 since the beginning of the year and is the fourth mountaineering mishap in as many weeks.

 

Four Latvian climbers were killed three weeks ago on Mount Cook after apparently falling at least 900 feet from near the summit, while in other incidents several climbers have been injured by falling ice.

 

In June, two local climbers died after they fell from a ridge or were hit by an avalanche on a glacier in the park.

 

Thousands of tourists from around the world flock to the region every year to climb the technically challenging Southern Alps.

 

More than 200 have been killed on and around Aoraki-Mount Cook since records were first kept, according to the Department of Conservation. "

[JoshK]

Yikes, that's never fun to hear about. I certainly hope none of the people we have arranged to contact when down there were involved.

 

Does anybody else plan to be in NZ in the next month? We are leaving in 2 days...packing stress-out here I come...

 

FWIW, we settled on Mount Aspiring. Cook, as you would expect, has permitting issues just like rainer, enchantments, etc.

[goatboy]

Does anyone know what route they were on on Tasman?

 

And Joshk, what sort of permitting issues are you talking about? There were no such permitting issues at this time last year, so I'm wondering what has changed.

 

Thanks,

 

Steve

[girlclimber]

the report i read on everestnews said that NZ guide David Hiddleston was one of those who died in the avalanche.

[cj001f]

When I was there last month there were no permit issues. They asked that you sign in and out at the visitor center(it's were you're staying so no BFD).

 

There are permit issues for the Great Walks, but thats a whole different ballgame.

[Ducknut]

I'll bet the permitting issue has to do with guided climbs and stays at the huts. Aspiring is a nice choice. Beautiful mountain. Wanaka is a nice town too.

[JoshK]

You are probably right that it has to do specifically with guided climbs and huts, both of which we are using. My dad has never climbed anything aside from hike-ups before so a guided certainly seemed the best way to get the most out of our time there.