Search Party Now Overdue Also

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30945, 29 December 1965, Page 1

Search Party Now Overdue Also

(New Zealand Press Association)

WELLINGTON, December 28.

Three men searching for Anek Ghelling, the student lost on Mount Ruapehu, have not been heard from since Monday morning.

The searchers failed to return to the Chateau Tongariro on Monday night after setting out for the high-level Dome 1 fut. All are experienced climbers.

The men last got in touch with search headquarters at the Chateau Tongariro at 10.30 a.m. on Monday. They reported that their radio was icing up. The long-range aerial had broken. They said they believed they were close to the emergency hut near Crater lake but they could not see it The chief ranger of Tongariro National Park. Mr J. W. Mazey, directing the search from the Chateau, said the three men were experienced mountaineers. “We hope they have reached the emergency hut at Crater lake. So far we have no worries about their safety,” he said. “We sent one party out late today to try to contact the party near the Crater lake hut. The party hasn’t reported back yet,” he said.

Rescuers had to call off the search for Mr Chelling today because of bad weather. It has been snowing and hailing on Ruapehu since early on Monday. A party of 27 men battled the blizzard on Monday in a vain attempt to find Mr Chelling.

Footprints were found on the glacier near 7400 ft but searchers lost them in heavy snow. Strong winds, low temperatures, heavy sleet and rain have interfered with search plans. Snow, which fell on Monday night, still lay thick round the Chateau today. A party today visited the Whakapapa valley and made another attempt to reach the Dome Hut. It was turned back by atrocious conditions. Weather predictions for tomorrow are not hopeful. Mr J. Mazey said it was possible Mr Chelling had reached the Dome Hut and was sheltering there with the missing search party.

He said the search for Mr Chelling would resume tomorrow if the weather cleared.

Hopes are fading that he will be found alive. He has no heavy clothing or boots and is carrying no provisions. He left the Chateau on Sunday with three friends to climb to crater lake. The others decided to turn back but Mr Chelling decided to go on.

He was last seen at 6000 feet near the chair lift.