NIGHT SPENT ON MT. EGMONT

Press, Volume XCI, Issue 27636, 18 April 1955, Page 3

NIGHT SPENT ON MT. EGMONT

CLIMBER FOUND UNHARMED

SEVENTY PERSONS TAKE PART IN SEARCH (New Zealand Press Association)

NEW PLYMOUTH, April 17. Nearly 70 persons searched all last night, in pouring rain and gale force winds, for a climber on Mount Egmont. This morning, the climber reached the Manganui Hut, on the Stratford side of the mountain, after spending the night in a small rock shelter nearly 7000 feet up Egmont. The Search and Rescue Organisation carried out a search under most trying and difficult conditions in an effort to find Raymond Henry Johnstone, aged 26, a traveller, of Wellington. Leaving the North Egmont Hostel at 10.15 a.m. on Saturday, Mr Johnstone set out for the Tahurangi Hut, 5400 feet up the north-eastern slopes. Before leaving, he obtained climbing boots, a parka, warm woollens, and an ice axe from the lessee of the hostel (Mr R. Walker), who advised him that climbing alone on the mountain was strongly discouraged. Mr Johnstone estimated that he would return to the hostel at 5 p.m. When he had not returned at 6.30 p.m., fears were felt for his safety, and Mr Walker gave the alarm. Within an hour, the Search and Rescue Organisation had begun arranging for search parties. Mr Walker was told by other parties who had been on the mountain that Mr Johnstone had been seen at the Tahurangi Hut about 11.30 a.m., and on the summit about 3 p.m. After reaching the summit, Mr Johnstone intended to come down with a party he met in the crater. The weather was fine, but soon after he left to catch up with the party, thick fog closed in, and he missed the track down the mountain.

Hindered by fog and approaching darkness. Mr Johnstone decided to build a rock shelter under a large overhanging rock. This kept him well sheltered until he was able to continue down the mountain at daybreak. He reached the Manganui Hut about 7 a.m,. little the worse for his experiences. But while he was in the shelter, his whereabouts unknown, the search went on. Mr Johnstone was later taken to the Stratford Mountain House.