MOUNT COOK STORMS

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29112, 26 January 1960, Page 12

MOUNT COOK STORMS

Climbing Parties Reported Safe (From Our Own Reporter) TIMARU, January 25. Climbers who sheltered in mountain huts from storms which swept across the Mount Cook area for eight hours on Sunday were in touch with the manager of the Hermitage (Mr L. S. Dennis) this evening. “There is no cause for alarm, and I think everyone is accounted for,” Mr Dennis said. The weather is clear, but the forecast for tomorrow is for north-west storms and some showers. “We know there is another party in the Pioneer Hut at the head of the Franz Josef, but there is no way of communicating with them," Mr Dennis added. However there was no cause for concern as the parfy was not planning a major climb, ne said. “There was one party we were concerned about. But we have ascertained that the two men have adequate equipment and food for three or four days. We think that if they have been caught they will be all right,” saidMr Dennis.

It was the party’s intention to climb Tasman and one or two other peaks, and as the men were staying out until Wednesday anyway, he felt reassured, Mr Dennis added.

Parties were called by radio yesterday at Gardener Hut and the Haast and Malte Brun Huts. The party at Gardener had left and come down.

The chief ranger (Mr H. Ayres) is at the Haast Hut with a large party waiting to go out, and there is another big party with guide P. Boswell at Malte Brun.

“They will not be coming out for a day or two as they are equipped to stay on until the weather improves aand carry out some climbing,” said Mr Dennis. He said he thought it was Mr Ayres’s intention to climb Mount Cook.