SEARCH FOR CLIMBERS

Press, Volume LXXXII, Issue 24768, 8 January 1946, Page 4

SEARCH FOR CLIMBERS

CONSTABLE’S REPORT EXPECTED TO-DAY From Our Own Reporter TIMARU, January 7. At present it seemed unlikely that a further search for the two climbers who have been missing in the Mt. Cook region, since before Christmas would serve any useful purpose, said Police Inspector D. L. Calwell, of Timaru, to-day. The missing, men are Arthur Clelland Lees, aged 43 years, and Hans Rudolf Lerchenthal, aged 24 years. Both were single and were Christchurch residents. Inspector Calwell added that it was probable that other trampers would be in the area where the men are missing and further information might be gained thus. Guide M. Bowie, of the Hermitage, who led the party while searching for the missing men, had said that his party had found a mountaineering boot and part of an ice-axe on the second day of the search. Both these articles had been found in the same area. Inspector Calwell said the boot might have belonged to the Hermitage authorities who sometimes supplied climbing equipment, but so far as he knew it had not been identified. Guide Bowie had reported considerable falls of snow and it was very sbft.

Mr P. W. Young. South Canterbury representative of Federated Mountain Clubs in New Zealand, said to-day that the original search party was sufficiently experienced to continue the search if they thought it advisable. Once they had decided that there was no hope for the missing men’s survival, and after they had established within reason the location of the bodies, there was very little else that could be done. The boot and the broken ice-axe had been found about 10.000 feet up the lower slopes of Mt. Cook. It was not yet known if the missing men were making the ascent by a recognised route or not.

It was stated at the. Hermitage that there had been rain in the Mt. Cook region to-day. Light falls of snow had occurred during the night. Further information could not be obtained from the Hermitage by telephone toInspector Calwell told a reporter of “The Press” that he expected to receive a report to-morrow from the constable who went to the Hermitage to assist in the search. Lees has no relatives in New Zealand. A returned soldier, he arrived back in the Dominion on May 3. 1945. Lerchenthal’s parents are in Wellington. He was a mechanic employed by the Kaiapoi Woollen Company in Christchurch.