Search Today For Missing Climbers

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31091, 21 June 1966, Page 1

Search Today For Missing Climbers

Seven parties of four—National Park rangers, experienced mountaineers and two policemen—will begin a search today for four climbers overdue since Sunday evening from a difficult trip in the Arthur’s Radio operators will keep search parties in touch with two bases.

Two of those overdue are experienced climbers who have been on call previously for the Search and Rescue Organisation. The other two are young Englishmen recently arrived in Christchurch. They had had climbing experience in Britain. One of the men Is Mr B. Ferguson, aged 19, son of Mr and Mrs F. G. Ferguson, of 105 Southampton street, Christchurch. The other ex-

perienced climber is a student at the University of Canterbury, whose parents do not live in Christchurch. The police, late last night were not certain of the names of the Englishmen. On Saturday the climbers lefs their car at the summit of Arthur’s Pass and were due in Christchurch on Sunday evening. “Both my son and the student are members of the Canterbury Mountaineering Club,” said Mr Ferguson last evening. “My son has

been in the area at least three other times. The student is also experienced.” Mr Ferguson said he felt no anxiety when his son did hot arrive home on Sunday evening as plenty of leeway had been allowed for in the climb. He telephoned the chief ranger (Mr P. Croft) at Arthur’s Pass at 2 p.m. yesterday. The party intended to go up the Otira Valley, to Mount Philistine (6400 ft then further up the valley to Mount Rolleston (7450 ft Found Car Mr Croft found the car yesterday afternoon. Rangers who made a reconnaissance in the valley saw no signs of the party. Two other parties in the area at the week-end saw no sign of the climbers. Mr Croft said that the proposed trip was a very involved one. The weather at the week-end and yesterday was fine and sunny with no wind. The snow was frozen. It was possible that a member of the party had been injured. There are several different routes out of the area. Two four-man parties of rangers will go to the head of the Waimakariri river to-

day. Four, possibly five, parties of four mountaineers, including Sergeant E. Niven and Constable B. S. Thomas, of the special police section for search and rescue work in the mountains, will go up the Otira valley, up Mount Philistine and up the Otira face of Mount Rolleston. They will also traverse the Goldney and Rome ridges. A search party from the West Coast will go up the Rolleston river, a tributary of the Otira.

The search parties from Christchurch are being taken to Arthur’s Pass in Army transport. The Army will also provide meals at the search bases and rations for the field party. Two radios were sent to Arthur’s Pass by train yesterday, and more radios will be taken up early this morning. Mr Croft will be the field search controller.

Mr G. Buchanan, liaison officer for the SA.R. in Christchurch said last evening that there were a great many possible routes in the area that the climbers might have taken. Pack stretchers would be taken into the area, and stretcher parties called on if required.