Avalanche Kills Two Guides In Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park In New Zealand (UPDATED)

October 30, 2018

Mount Hicks, New Zealand – On Wednesday, October 31, 2018 an avalanche caught, buried, and killed two climbers while ascending 3198-meter Mount Hicks in Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park in the Southern Alps on the South Island of New Zealand. Another individual survived the avalanche.

According to Otago Daily Times, the group had arrived at the Empress Hut on October 28. After waiting out a day of bleak weather, they attempted Mount Hicks starting early on October 31.

The trio was roped up and ascending Mount Hick when the avalanche occurred around 5:30am. All three were buried in the slide. The survivor, an experienced mountaineer, was “completely buried” for about 30 minutes before she was able to free herself.

The survivor triggered a PLB (Personal Locator Beacon) at 6:00am. Rescuers and search dogs responded via helicopter by about 7:00am. Police identified the two victims as mountain guides. The survivor was identified as Jo Morgan, wife of economist Gareth Morgan. The victims have been recovered, but not yet identified.

According to the New Zealand Avalanche Advisory avalanche danger in Aoraki/Mount Cook area was rated as Considerable Risk at Alpine and High Alpine elevations in the report issued October 30, 2018 and valid through November 1, 2018.

Stuff.co.nz posted helicopter footage and images of the avalanche.

We will try to update this post when more information is available.

UPDATE 10/31: Stuff.co.nz identified the victims as German mountain guides Martin Hess and Wolfgang Maier. Read more here.

View Larger Topographic Map| Map from Topomap.co.nz

Read more about the avalanche on Mount Hicks in New Zealand from the following sources: