SAFE ARRIVAL

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 118, 20 May 1937, Page 10

SAFE ARRIVAL

MISSING CLIMBERS

NIGHT SPENT BY LAKE

(By Telegraph—Press Association.)

NEW PLYMOUTH, May 19.

Unharmed, Miss T. Field, Nelson, and Mr. Arnold Prestidge, Matapu, who were lost on Mount Egmont on Tuesday afternoon, walked out of the bush reserve at the top of the Mangawhero Road, six 'miles from Paponga, at 2,55 p.m. today. They left Dawson Falls for Fantham Peak early on Tuesday afternoon.

A search party -located traces of the lost climbers in the vicinity of Lake Dive, and parties had been dispatched to approach the area from Dawson Falls and the Rowan and Mangawhero roads before news of the safe arrival had reached Dawson Falls. Fire signals were made to recall the parties, and all but one, comprising 16 members, had returned last night. A total of 85 searchers was engaged.

Miss Field" and Mr. Prestidge appeared none tjie worse for their experience when interviewed shortly after their arrival. Both were feeling the strain of the ordeal, but, apart from a sprained ankle suffered by Miss Field, they appeared to be in good health. After climbing to the snow line on Tuesday, the pair descended to the Lake Dive track and, under the impression that it led to Hastie's Hill, decided to return to the hostel by that route. On reaching the lake they were unable to find a continuation of the track. . Dusk * fell quickly and they were unable to return by the track by which they had come. They decided to spend the night at the lake. Conditions were mild, but nevertheless Miss Field and Mr. Prestidge, although not seriously inconvenienced by the rain, shivered for the greater part of the night. Warmth was restored when, at .6.55 a.m., they resumed the task ot finding the track. Concern at their predicament was not felt overnight, because they realised they could return to the higher slopes in the morning if necessary by the track by which they had descended. It was while looking for the non-existent track to Dawson Fallsthat they became lost. By climbing trees they were able to see the plains below and they decided to make for open country. Making good use of streams as a directional guide, they trudged throueh the bush until they struck the Otakeho Stream, which they followed to the top of the Mangawhero Road. "When the sun set we s;.l down and shivered and yelled," said Mr. Prestidge. "We did not see any lights during the night, as we were in a hollow. We set off in the best of spirits at 6.55 a.m. lodty, and we did not -stop walking until 2.55 p.m., when we struck ,'open country. As the day progressed things got but we pushed on, as we were afraid that we would have to spend another night in the bush. When we came on to the plains we did not know where we were. "We were more thirsty than hungry," said Miss Field. "I could not see properly later in the day, and began to feel giddy. We ■ were not alarmed during the night, but were concerned about the searchers, who. we expected, would set out. It was very cold, but , might have been, worse."