Two climbers spent nearly 24 hours on the Remarkables Mountains this week after being caught in an avalanche.
In a statement, a police media spokesman said Queenstown Police had been notified of two people who had requested rescue from Double Cone just before noon.
The pair had previously been caught in an avalanche but avoided burial and managed to extricate themselves unharmed.
They moved a short distance to a relatively safe area nearby, but because of the avalanche danger, they couldn’t get out safely.
The media statement says weather conditions were poor – high winds and blowing snow affected visibility and although two attempts were made on Tuesday to deploy an alpine rescue team by helicopter, conditions prevented that.
“The climbers were advised to dig a snow cave and take shelter at night, pending further rescue efforts.” [yesterday].
“The two climbers were experienced in the mountains and well equipped for a night in the snow cave,” the statement said.
Another attempt was made yesterday morning to reach the climbers, but the weather conditions made that “impossible”.
“The helicopter was able to land the alpine rescue team 1.2 km away and 300 m below the climbers’ position.”
The team made their way to the climbers just after 10:45 a.m. yesterday, and the weather cleared quickly after the helicopter was able to reach the party and get them off the mountain.
“The climbers were shocked by the event and felt that they could not have made it down the mountain without help, due to the dangerous avalanche conditions.”