Two bushwalkers became stuck in the blizzard conditions in the Kosciuszko National Park. Photo: Instagram/Flynn Medson.
Two stranded bushwalkers have been rescued after getting stuck in blizzard conditions in the Kosciuszko National Park.
Emergency services were called to the Kosciuszko Walking Trail, below Mount Carruthers, about three kilometres from Mount Kosciuszko, at about 7:30 am on Saturday (7 June).
According to rescuer Flynn Medson, who posted about the rescue on social media, he received a call that a 31-year-old man and 28-year-old woman were stuck in blizzard conditions.
“They were safe but their tent was starting to break in the severe winds and [they] were very underprepared for any inclement weather,” he posted.
“No snowshoes, no hot food and minimal layers.”
A command post was established and people from the Monaro Police District Alpine Operations Unit, the Police Rescue Squad, NSW Ambulance and the NSW State Emergency Service alpine search and rescue team responded.
A search team got to within about 1.2 km of the stranded bushwalkers at about 12:15 pm before being forced to turn back due to the strong winds and white-out blizzard conditions.
Mr Medson posted that he led the second rescue effort, where the team set off for the Carruthers Peak area, first using an ATV and then on snowshoes and a Splitboard.
“The going was slow and tough with 80-100 km/h winds and constant, heavy snow beating us around the entire time,” he wrote.
“We would arrive at rock bands and cliffs tracking a set of GPS co-ords with terrain navigation being extremely tough and disorientating us many times, vision hardly further than the tips of my [Splitboard].”
They found the broken tent and the bushwalkers at about 11 pm.
“After supplying them with food, lighting, layers and snowshoes we all then set off back into the weather, abandoning the tent for another time,” Mr Medson wrote.
They reached the staging team set up by other rescuers on the Summit Road toward Blue Lake at about 12:25 am (Sunday, 8 June), where they stayed for a time due to rising Snowy River levels, strong winds and heavy snowfall, before reaching the ambulance team in their over-snow vehicle at 3:30 am.
The hikers were successfully extracted by 4 am on Sunday (8 June) with no injuries reported.
The bushwalkers were extracted with no injuries reported. Photo: Instagram/Flynn Medson.
Mr Medson said the “huge undertaking” by all emergency services personnel meant they achieved a “positive result in the harshest of conditions”.
“Easily the hardest backcountry trip I’ve ever undertaken, but one of the most satisfying,” he wrote.
“Check the forecast seems to be the message here. Many lives were endangered in rescuing some poor decision makers.”
Monaro Police District Acting Inspector Andrew Woods reminded Kosciusko National Park users they needed to be properly prepared before heading into alpine regions as snow season begins.
“It’s highly recommended that Park users monitor weather forecasts closely and continually as conditions change quickly,” he said.
“The use of the online National parks and Wildlife Services Trip Intention Forms and personal locator beacon is strongly encouraged.
“The Think Before Trek checklist recommends some very helpful advice on clothing, alpine safety and readiness including telling a loved one your plans.”
Original Article published by Claire Fenwicke on Region Canberra.
