Mt Cook search called off

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33453, 7 February 1974, Page 3

Mt Cook search called off

f.V.Z. Press Association) TIMARU, Feb. 6. The search for a missing Australian climber in Mount Cook National Park was called off today. It is now thought that if Ronald Harris, of Sydney, is still in the park, there is no hope of finding him alive. The park’s chief ranger, Mr B. Thomas, will have discussions tomorrow with the Timaru police on whether anything more can be done to try to find Mr Harris. Mr Harris has been missing since January 28 when he began a climb up the Tasman Glacier. He was due out on January 31 but when he failed to show up by the week-end, a search was begun. ICE PROBLEM The search has been concentrated on the Tasman Glacier, but Mr Thomas said that melting ice had made the area virtually inaccessible, and any further ground searching was out of the question. He said there was no guarantee that Mr Harris was still in the area, but if two other Australian climbers who met him on the glacier could be contacted, the doubt would probably be solved. The couple, Mr Stephen Anderson and Miss Jeannie McCrutchett, are holidaying somewhere in New Zealand, but are expected back at Mount Cook before they return home. 500 FT CREVASSES Mr Thomas said the Tasman Glacier contained huge crevasses up to 500 feet deep. If Mr Harris had fallen into one of these there would be no hope of finding him. Mr Harris had been injured in a fall on Mount Sealy (8651 ft only three days before setting out on the climb up the Tasman Glacier. He suffered grazings and a knee injury, and a nurse treating him considered him unfit for climbing anywhere. Mr Thomas said the injuries would have made it easier for Mr Harris to slip on an ice wall and get into serious trouble on the glacier. FURTHER DIFFICULTY The weather at Mount Cook yesterday was overcast although temperatures rose in the afternoon which would have made conditions on the Tasman Glacier more treacherous.