Missing man found

Press, 12 February 1981, Page 3

Missing man found

Timaru reporter A man who had become separated from his companions in poor weather at 1.30 p.m. on Tuesday while attempting a crossing of the Copland Pass was reported ’safe and well yesterday. ’ Mr M. Baker, a Rhodesian staying in New Zealand, turned up- at the Douglas Rock Hut, in which he had spent the night, on the west-; ern side of the Main Divide.' He put the authorities’! minds at rest. . i The chief ranger at Mount! Cook National Park head-, quarters, Mr- A. Young-’ man, said there was . cause for .concern afte. the main party had searched the summit of the pass (2091 m repeatedly before proceeding to the Hooker Hut (1100 m on the western side of the Hooker Glacier below the Copland Pass, and raising the alarm. -

I A combined, two-pronged i search by the respective • headquarters of Westland and Mount CoOk national ; parks had been scheduled to get under way when the weather improved. Mr R. Small, lof WhirlWide Helicopters, Ltd, flying a Squirrel helicopter, was able to check the eastern side of the Copland Pass as far as the Copland Shelter before the search was called off. It was raining at Mount Cook yesterday — heavily on the West Coast — with north-wesierlv winds;