MOUNTAIN WARNINGS

Press, Volume CV, Issue 30961, 18 January 1966, Page 1

MOUNTAIN WARNINGS

Enforcement May Be Needed (New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, January 17. It might be necessary to press for legislation permitting rangers of national parks to issue tickets if the warnings they gave were disregarded, said the president of the Wellington Associated Mountain Clubs (Mr R. C. Jeffreys) today.

“The recent incident on Mount Ruapehu, when a young man narrowly escaped death, highlights the necessity to give rangers greater authority. Against their better judgment, an inexperienced party of four, without equipment, attempted a climb of the mountain, in unfavourable weather,” said Mr Jeffreys.

“The young man, responsible for the search in most difficult conditions, broke all the rules for safe practice and if it was not for the fact that the other members of his party abandoned the climb earlier, the situation could have been even more serious

“The climb to the crater on Mount Ruapehu in good weather and with favourable conditions is not difficult, but for an inexperienced party to attempt the climb without food and equipment and against the advice of the park rangers is inexcusable.” said Mr Jeffreys. “In spite of the continual

publicity, the teaching and preaching of the dangers that exist in our mountains, there are still a few who are not prepared to take advice from those who know, and invariably finish up being the centre of a very costly search and possibly being carried off the mountain. “It was a rather ridiculous situation, searching for someone missing on a mountain who was clad in cotton jeans, and wearing canvas rubbersoled shoes, when the conditions for the experienced searchers called for full alpine clothing, ice axes, ropes and crampons. “There is a need for greater awareness on the part of the public, when visiting the mountains, to be properly equipped and to take the advice of the park rangers.

“It is to be hoped that the national mountain safety campaign, recently sponsored by tl;e Internal Affairs Department will do much to reduce mountain accidents. “The campaign, which will continue, and on lines similar to the water safety campaign, has the full support of the Federation of Mountain Clubs, which has accepted responsibility for the tech- | nical and training side of it.”