Climbers surprised by news cover of snow cave ordeal

Press, 8 December 1982, Page 1

Climbers surprised by news cover of snow cave ordeal

Mark Inglis and Philip Doole are surprised that their 14-day ordeal trapped in a snow cave on Mount Cook created so much public interest. They told journalists at a press conference at Burwood Hospital yesterday, that a lot of the publicity had been “generated” by the news media, and that it had “got a bit out of hand.” To them the experience was “pretty routine.” Mr Doole put it simply: "Two men jumped into the slot for the night and lasted a bit longer than they thought.” Much of their time in the snow cave was spent lying on their backs, trying to sleep and conserve energy. They had a lot of confidence in their workmates at the search and rescue base, and always thought they would be rescued. Mr Inglis said that they talked occasionally but not a lot. “We are not great conversationists.” When they did talk, it was about each other, and their families. The two men tended to talk more each time they had a morale booster, such as the supply air drop on

their seventh day of confinement, the sound of a helicopter, a settling in the wind, or even just seeing sunlight — “everything that made the day look brighter.” Mr Inglis said that they found it easier to sleep during the daylight hours, as plenty of sunlight reached the cave through the ice and snow. However it was during the nights, which seemed to pass a lot slower, that they had problems. Mr Inglis often hallucinated, which he said must have been trying on his companion. Mr Doole jokingly replied that he tended to become antagonistic, and "just threatened to beat him up.” After the supply drop, which included food and drink, both men believed they could have survived in the cave for at least another five days. When they first decided that they would have to shelter in a cave, they had no difficulty finding one. “We got inside it, dug out a bench to sleep on, built a wall to keep the wind out, and moved in,” said Mr Doole.

The men had “about one day’s supply” of food, which included chocolate bars, biscuits, and oranges. Drinking water was obtained by stuffing bottles of snow down their shirts. If the weather had cleared by about Sunday, November 20, their fourth day in the cave, they would have tried to climb down, said Mr Doole. However, frostbite soon set in, which left them no option but to wait to be rescued. Asked if they had experienced any spiritual revelation during their ordeal, Mr Doole said: “Probably about two million New Zealanders will be very disappointed, but I do not think prayer had anything to do with what happened up there.” Items air-dropped to the two men on the evening of November 28, their last night in the cave, included a radio telephone, a transistor radio, a mountaineering magazine, and a copy of John Le Carre’s novel, “The Spy Who Came in from the Cold.” When they heard on Radio Scenicland the next morning that an Iroquois helicopter was wrecked on the mountain, Mr Doole sought clarification and reassurance from search control that no-one else was going to be put in

danger. The assurance was given and they were rescued in fine weather soon after. Both men had learnt from the experience, and had valuable advice to pass on to would-be climbers. Never again would they venture into the mountains without “bivvy boots,” made of the same material as sleeping bags and able to be worn inside the bags to maintain warmth when climbing boots are removed. Mr Doole said that any climber who did not take a carry mat (foam pad) with him should not be on a mountain. “A lot of climbers will say I am talking rubbish, but they have saved me twice.” Mr Inglis’ advice to climbers trapped in storms was: “Get out of the wind and plan on staying there for a long time — it is no use gobbling all your food in the first two days.” Both men are suffering from frostbite, although it is too early to tell whether they will lose the use of their feet. Mr Doole expects to remain in hospital for two months, and Mr Inglis for five to six weeks.