Safety call after latest Mt Taranaki death

The death of another young climber on Mt Taranaki has led to calls for a dedicated alpine trained ranger to be stationed permanently on the landmark.

Mountaineer Ivan Bruce said with the number of deaths increasing, it may be time to start asking if those going up Mt Taranaki are equipped and experienced enough to complete the trip.

Bruce was speaking after the death of a man, believed to be in his 20s, on the benign looking, cone shaped mountain last Wednesday night, where temperatures fell below freezing point.

Bruce told the Taranaki Daily News “people are dying on the mountain at almost a rate of one a year but no one knows of those who go up whether they have adequate experience or not.

"It could be time for the Department of Conservation to have a dedicated alpine trained ranger permanently on the mountain, as the department does in the Mt Cook region, to offer advice, and check and monitor climbers and experience levels."

Bruce said it was vital climbers were technically proficient for the conditions when they attempt to climb Mt Taranaki in winter.

He added “it's technically a difficult mountain to climb. It looks close and it's only 2500 metres high but it's steep and gets very icy.

"If people are not proficient and get into trouble, they are not only putting themselves at risk but also those who come to rescue them."

NZ Mountain Safety Council Chief Executive Mike Daisley said Mt Taranaki presented a very dangerous alpine environment to all climbers at this time of the year.

Daisley advised “many people underestimate the mountain. It's an advanced tramping experience for many at any time of the year but during winter it can only be considered an alpine climb.

"You can go from getting out of the car at the parking area with your coffee to being in a challenging alpine environment in the space of six kilometres."

However, Daisley said regulating who should climb on New Zealand's mountains would go against the culture.

He added "New Zealanders like to get out and enjoy the mountain environment.

"It's better to make people aware of the risks, and understand the mountain safety code involved, than putting a gate up at the park entrance."

Mt Taranaki image courtesy of Taranaki Mounga.

12th June 2017 - ALPINE SAFETY ON THE AGENDA IN CHRISTCHURCH 

6th January 2017 - OUTDOOR SAFETY CODE KEY TO PARTICIPANT SAFETY 

4th September 2016 - AWARDS RECOGNISE NEW ZEALAND’S OUTDOOR ACHIEVERS AND ENVIRONMENTAL LEADERS

8th March 2016 - CANADIAN TOURISTS KILLED BY AN AVALANCHE IGNORED WARNINGS ON KEPLER TRACK 

7th March 2016 - CHRISTCHURCH ADVOCATE TO CHAMPION THE VALUE OF OUTDOOR RECREATION 

5th March 2014 - TARANAKI NAMED NEW ZEALAND’S NUMBER ONE DESTINATION