Thread: Tramper missing in Tararuas

Not looking good...

Wx is turning poos again for next 24-48 hours.

Does it get much below minus zero at the tararuas. It was minus 3 at galatea at 1 am.

Originally Posted by Russian 22.

Does it get much below minus zero at the tararuas. It was minus 3 at galatea at 1 am.

It sure can

well below zero on the tops...

in winter you can get ice down to 800/900m

if you factor in wind-chill it is a grim place to be.

common to have 50 to 80 kmh wind in exposed places

Originally Posted by Paddy79

It sure can

not a nice place to be then.

Originally Posted by ebf

well below zero on the tops...

in winter you can get ice down to 800/900m

if you factor in wind-chill it is a grim place to be.

common to have 50 to 80 kmh wind in exposed places

sounds deadly.

Originally Posted by Munsey

I can’t recall there being a radio , it’s a long long way above the bush line that hut . It would have been brutal .


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Yea.....Its actually not all that high at around 1650asl but it is a long way from the bushline....especially from the mount Robert route with all that exposed ridgeline to walk its about the worst way possible to access in bad weather, Speargrass route keeps you in shelter 90% of the way and there is a hut at the bushline if conditions are too bad to continue...maybe the river put them off that route I dont know.

you have got to feel for the SAR people who will be out trying to locate people like this...one bad decision and they will be out there giving thier all to try and bring them home to thier families..... looking up at the hills here recently Im very pleased Im not having an unplanned night out.

Hmmm how many people across time have been told not to underestimate the New Zealand high country and back country and yet still choose to do things that are ill advised ad at times to their peril? I hope this pommie bloke is OK. I for one wouldn’t fancy being up there at the moment.

The hardest decision to make is too turn around but I think you would be hard pressed to final an example of where a fatality has happened when a party has retreated to shelter / cover in inclement weather

Originally Posted by Rushy

Hmmm how many people across time have been told not to underestimate the New Zealand high country and back country and yet still choose to do things that are ill advised ad at times to their peril? I hope this pommie bloke is OK. I for one wouldn’t fancy being up there at the moment.

I don't think people realise that the she'll be right attitude can kill. Can't afford not to have the right gear and lots of food and water.

Too little water is very rarely a problem in NZ tramping.

Too much in the form of rivers is the big killer.

Originally Posted by ebf

Too little water is very rarely a problem in NZ tramping

And our bush will feed you if you know what you are doing.

Originally Posted by Rushy

And our bush will feed you if you know what you are doing.

I have eaten a few supplejack shoots. And heard that ponga shoots are Alright.

What else is good to east?

Most NZ berries are poisonous to humans. Safest food is fish koura etc from streams, or rats and possums. ( assuming they havent bern 1080'd)

Originally Posted by Russian 22.

I have eaten a few supplejack shoots. And heard that ponga shoots are Alright.

What else is good to east?

For a start most all the insects and larvae you find although Wetas taste pretty foul. Koura and eels are fairly easy to catch and thereafter head up the animal scale. come with me to a park some day and I will find you some stick insects, cicadas and grass hoppers to get you started. After your first cicada I bet you take the wings off the next one.