For a week now a solo tramper has been missing over in the Ahuriri Valley. It’s a bit of mystery where he is!
Each day Wanaka Search and Rescue has fielded some teams, and on Friday two car loads of us drove over the Lindis, to add to other volunteers from all surrounding areas, even as far afield as Queenstown.
We were given ground already covered – namely just off to the side of the easy track he probably used.
Gearing up…
Going throughly and slowly gave me time occasionally to look at the beauty around me, especially if I got ahead of my companions…
These trees got this lean on due to snow last winter I suspect…
Lunch with a couple of my good mates: Mike on the left, has spent a life time farming the high country, and has done an amazing amount of SAR, ambulance and fire brigade work in our small communities. Allan, center has done an almost unbelievable number of alpine climbs in the Southern Alps. Being with these two old mates not only engenders great trust in our team, but made my day so enjoyable…
Joined by a Dunedin dog handler…
Moody views more suited to photography than searching…
Back down in the valley floor – tasks completed and heading to Search HQ…
The New Zealand Air Force fielded one helicopter…
And a fuel truck, and that’s some high tech pumping gear that I dare say could easily keep up with an Iroquois’s thirst of a 44 gal drum per 30 mins…
Search Headquarters was the old Birchwood Station homestead. Endless cups of teas and sandwiches abounded, and being a bit damp and tired, this was just the bee’s knees…
The nerve center occupied by the search management team. The dense blue spot on the projected map would have been all the downloads from the GPS units we all carry. The management then look for gaps, and if any are identified put a team into it to check it out. The high probability area seemed to be saturated. This’d make it very hard to decide “what next?”, as clues… well hardly any have apparently turned up…
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