Thread: Tramper missing in Tararuas

Originally Posted by Rushy

One of my grandsons is in the next intake in July. She’s bloody cold standing on the parade ground with the wind whipping around your arse. I did my basic in mid winter and remember the numb extremities well.

I was probably on the same parade ground 50 years prior to you Rushy,I hope the SAR team bring him back,good result from the team down South.

winds were up to 140kms when Darren Myers left Arete bivvy to keep going on the Northern Crossing.
Just spend 4days up there, wasn't on the tops though. The search teams up there had a fairly hard time, snow was quite deep, and still blowing. it still is. Most got pulled out on Tuesday, rivers were too high to search tops were impossible to search in heavy rain/gales.
The teams back up there now wont be very warm.
Couldn't think of much worse place to come unstuck. for the missing person or search teams, or the controller figuring out where he is

The leather wood up there is bollocks I remember doing a SAR exercise at Nichols hut & dracophyllum biv , be hard yakka searching off of the track south of Nichols , was he carrying a plb ?

Originally Posted by Boaraxa

The leather wood up there is bollocks I remember doing a SAR exercise at Nichols hut & dracophyllum biv , be hard yakka searching off of the track south of Nichols , was he carrying a plb ?

no PLB

Searchers have located the poor guys body today. At least they will be able to return him to family to allow proper farewell.

BUGGAR!!!!!

Sad. Sympathy to his loved ones.

That really sucks man. Sympathy to his family

SAR are going to bring him home to his family.....well done folks,we cant save them all,but you gave it a plurry good try...

Sad news alright

Hats off to the guys out searching, sad result for the family. RIP

Very sad indeed. Valiant effort by LandSAR. RIP.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/113...Ak9oMZQm8cNFEA

RIP Darren

akso an interesting read. fairly typical experience of the area
https://astrangereverywhere.wordpres...NnyM8Jff9YCp-8

Originally Posted by Tararuas hunter

also an interesting read. fairly typical experience of the area
https://astrangereverywhere.wordpres...NnyM8Jff9YCp-8

Certainly an interesting and somewhat alarming read @Tararuas hunter

In light of this would it be possible please to advise what Tararua headwaters you would include in a list to be avoided for this reason, or are they too numerous? I'm thinking of rivers as described; multiple waterfalls and where it is also too steep to climb out. Isabelle Ck historically, though it might be just the one large waterfall with the ability to sidle rather than a trap situation? The upper Tauherinikau is another I've heard to avoid, but again this might just be because it is impassable when in flood. Sooner or later in the Tararuas the need arises to duck off the tops and it would be good to have an idea of headwater routes to definitely avoid - or to only use below a given confluence?
If I didn't have a lot of the old maps that show historical routes and some waterfalls it wouldn't for example be clear to me that the upper Waingawa (that you and the NZHA guys used as an exit route the other year) is fine when the Arete Stream branch is not.

Originally Posted by Puffin

Certainly an interesting and somewhat alarming read @Tararuas hunter

In light of this would it be possible please to advise what Tararua headwaters you would include in a list to be avoided for this reason, or are they too numerous? I'm thinking of rivers as described; multiple waterfalls and where it is also too steep to climb out. Isabelle Ck historically, though it might be just the one large waterfall with the ability to sidle rather than a trap situation? The upper Tauherinikau is another I've heard to avoid, but again this might just be because it is impassable when in flood. Sooner or later in the Tararuas the need arises to duck off the tops and it would be good to have an idea of headwater routes to definitely avoid - or to only use below a given confluence?

Google earth in 3D is a useful tool. Tells you terrain and likely slips and clearings.

I now have the rule that if I am moving then if I can get to a track then to just use it. I've done too many "short cuts" that turned into nightmares.

They tried to do a short cut. I have found that most of the tracks are where they are for a good reason.

If I'm hunting then of course its off piste and you just have to be able to turn tail and run if it is too dangerous. Quitting while you are ahead can be life saving.