CONTROL OF ASCENTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20968, 3 September 1931, Page 10

CONTROL OF ASCENTS.

DANGERS OF INEXPERIENCE

ANSWER TO OBJECTORS.

LIVES OF SEARCHERS RISKED.

VALUE OF DIRECTION CAIRNS

[n? TELEGRAPH. —PRESS ASSOCIATION.] ' WELLINGTON. Wednesday. "It is impossible for the present conditions governing the ascent of mountains to continue," declared Mr. R. Cobbe, manager of the Chateau, in an interview this afternoon. "For the greater part of the year ascents may be perfectly safe and this fact misleads visitors into the belief that the mountains are always negotiable without risk. This is not correct, and even under very fine summer conditions dense mountain mists "suddenly arise and make it impossible to see a foot in front of you. "Almost invariably climbers, who become lost bear to the left in their descent j and this loads them into the most dangerous and inaccessible bush country in the park. If lost climbers would keep to the open tussock country, between the snow and the bush, they would be picked up in a few hours. "Majoy of the most prominent and experienced mountaineers strongly disagree with me wheu I say there should be control of the movements of anyone wanting to climb It should be obvious that no person having his power of control would interfere with experienced men, but these objectors to control should remember that the park is now visited by thousands of people who have no knowledge or experience of climbing. The number of visitors is increasing rapidly, and conditions that met the situation when the sole frequenters of the park were, members of ski clubs and mountaineers can no longer be tolerated. "One well-known climber, in 'voicing his objection to control, said: 'lf people go out they go out at their own risk.' This is entirely wrong, because if they become lost the searchers - who go after them also risk their lives. It is imperative that th<» manager should be able to prevent ascents under dangerous climatic conditions, and it is also necessary that the rule laid down that searchers must not go out until tte early morning be strictly enforced. My orders, that no mac must leave until three o'clock on Sunday morning to search for these .students, were disobeyed by members of the ski club. They left at 11 o'clock on Saturday night and were unable to do any good because of the darkness and weather and were so exhausted that the next day when every experienced man was needed their services were not available. "Inexperienced climbers should undoubtedly hnv- a guide with them as his experience and knowledge of mountain conditions are invaluable in case of trouble. In order to prevent lost climbers from getting -down into the bush country rock cairns can be built cheaply and directions painted on them. If these were erected at intervals and instructions were issued to each climber to look for I them if lost this would assist them ill the right direction. Many of the tracks J arc poled at present, but an extension of i the system is necessary to the northwestern aspect of .Ruapehu."