THE COPLAND PASS TRAGEDY

Wanganui Chronicle, 8 June 1948, Page 4

THE COPLAND PASS TRAGEDY

piE tragedy in which three young women lost their lives in a blizzard in the Copland Pass shocked New Zealand at the time. The young women had been cautious enough to obtain the services of a guide, but meeting with unfavourable weather conditions the young women were overcome by fatigue and perished. The coroner, in his verdict, does not mention, seemingly, that the party was insufficiently clad for the occasion. “I have formed the opinion,” said the coroner, in his verdict, ‘‘that immediate action should be taken for the purpose of providing ways and means of preventing similar tragedies.” The best preventive is for wouldbe mountaineers to take notice of weather forecasts and not-to venture into country where a blizzard is likely to be experienced and where no suitable protective accommodation is within striking distance. The coroner recommended the inclusion of stimulating tablets free from alcohol in first-aid equipment and that mountain huts on regular tourist routes be stocked with emergency rations. The licensing of guides is also recommended. The difficulty in dealing with wouldbe mountaineers is that they do not appreciate what a terrible enemy cold can be Tn the present instance it was at the instance of the guide that the young women donned more clothing and this indicates their inexperience. In the Swiss Alps the supervision of climbers is well organised. The lone climber is told that if he gets into difficulties when climbing on his own no rescue party can be expected to go out to his aid. The employment of guides places the party under the direction of the guide and the terrain is well planned and mapped out and the routes taken are specific. Mountain plimbers in New Zealand have available to them virgin peaks that have never yet been scaled and some that have not even been named. The sport is, therefore, very attractive and if engaged in with due caution and appropriate preparation not to be deprecated, although the element of danger can never, even under the best of circumstances, be entirely eliminated.