CAUGHT IN AVALANCHE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20893, 8 June 1931, Page 8

CAUGHT IN AVALANCHE.

MOUNTAINEERS' ADVENTURE.

SNOW-SLIDE TO FIRM GROUND

A party of seven climbers, including Miss B. Blunden, Messrs. P. Blunden, G. Flower, B. Barrer and B. Poulton, were returning from a successful ascent of the lower peak of Mount P.olleston, near Arthur's Pass, last Wednesday, when they were engulfed in an avalanche and lost three ice-axes. The members of the party were considerably shaken, and, after « being carried off their feet, made a snowslide of over 100 yards before they reached firm ground not far from a precipice. The party left Xhristchurch by goods train on Tuesday night and started on a moonlight climb at 1 a.m. Conditions were bad, soft snow and glazed rocks making footholds precarious. One member of the party suffered from cramp fcnd had to be assisted. Although the area of the avalanche was comparatively small, the climbers had an unenviable experience and the gear which they lost will probably not be recovered until tile, spring* when the ice melts. Experienced mountaineers have known avalanches in the Arthur's Pass and Otira region to travel over 800 ft. and yet not cause injury to anyone caught in them. On the other hand, the smallest can bo fatal to a climber who —not roped—dinks to any depth. Every precaution against mishap was taken by the party, and tho experience was one that may easily befall tho most expert mountaineer. The climbers returned to Christchurch oc Wednesday evening by train.