FIVE CLIMBERS INJURED

Hawera Star, Volume LIII, 7 August 1933, Page 7

FIVE CLIMBERS INJURED

MISHAP ON MT. EGMONT

SLIDE ON CRUSTED SNOW

While returning from the' summit of Mount Egmojit yesterday afternoon five members of a party of 17 slipped on crusted snow at about the 6(J001t level on the northern side just above Drink--1110; Rock and fell about 300 feet down a hard snow slope, bumping over rocks on the way and suffering scalp wounds j and abrasions. The five climbers ccnI cerned were Miss Nancy Gannawav ] (Auckland) who received outs above the right eye and abrasions, Mr Rod Syme I (Hawera) cuts-and abrasions, Mr Morton Jones (New Plymouth) injury to | right arm, Mr Desmond Ryan (Hawera) scalp wounds and general abrasions and I .Mr Kenneth Joblin (Inglewood) cuts on j rjght hand and' abrasions. Messrs Syme and ltyan are members of the Mt. Egmont Alpine Club, and Messrs Jones and Joblin beloiicr to the Taranaki Alpie Club. This particular trip to the summit was made as part of the activities in connection with the annual re-union of the Taranaki Alpine Club at the North Mount Egmont hostel, the party leaving the hostel at 9 o’clock under the leadership of Mr L. W. Lovell, captain of the club. Conditions for the climbing, after the previous day’s fail of snow, were perfect.- [The party made good progress, steps- being cut through crusted snow for the last 2000 feet of the climb. Tlie summit was reached at 25’clock and after a meal | the descent was commenced before 2.30. I There were, four parties, the first being under the charge of Mr Rod Syme and I comprising the five injured climbers. | At about 3 o’clock tlie alpmists were rounding a- traverse just above Drinking Rock in upper Snow Valley when] Mr Svme slipped. Tlie strain pulled 1 all five over. The party slid, although l making desperate efforts to stop themselves with their axes, for about fifty yards' to a snow-covered mound of rocks’ where Mr Syme succeeded in arresting- tlie fall momentarily. Tlie party dropped over a- 3ft- rock ledge, however, and covered a further 50 yards before finally stopping the fall in soft snow. Meanwhile the remainder of the expedition had watched the occurrence and went as quickly as prudence would permit to the injured section, which had regained the track with tlie assistance of -Messrs Syme and Rvan. Two members of the other sec- 1 tions were; sent to the hostel immediately to obtain first-aid assistance. ] The party made its way slowly down the mountain side and passed Humphries Castle before meeting the first relief party which consisted of Dr D. | E. Brown and Messrs Mervyn Lobb and Trevor AVriglit, who had set out immediately word was received. Dr Brown allowed all five to walk and the main relief expedition complete with stretcher, hot drinks, extra first-aid outfit and hot-water botles, wa;s met below the Stratford track. The stretcher was not required and the journey down was continued, the hostel beino- reached by the first two, Mr Svme and Miss Gannaway, soon alter 6 o’clock. The. others proceeded more slowly and arrived half an iioui The injured climbers were examined and subsequently the doctor sent Miss Gannaway. Mr Tones and Mr Ryan to the New Plymouth public hospital. Miss Gannaway will require about . a week’s treatment and Mr Jones arm will be. X-rayed. Mr Ryan was slightly battered about the head, but 111 no case can the injuries be described as at all serious. The three concerned were sent to hospital chiefly to keep them under observation, and inquiry to-clay reyealed t-lieir condition to be Quite satisfactory In a statement made during the evening the leader of the party (Mr Lovell) said that the accident was due to pure mischance. /The party 01 17 all had nailed boots, an ice-axe each, ruc-sacs complete with warm clothing, food and bandages—m fact full alpine equipment. The place ulieie the accident occurred was always accounted safe, and descendmo; parties usually commenced to glissade m tl immediate vicinity. In yesterdays case, however, the party was proceed, incr in the steps previously cut, there be'inf no particular need for hurry. It was a mischance that plight happen in the best-equipped parties and to the most reliable climbers.