Getting Them Out Alive
The rescue of an American mother and daughter from death by exposure over the weekend has been grabbing national attention. The discovery and rescue of the missing trampers (hikers) occurred in the notorious Tararua Ranges, north of Wellington.
The Tararuas are a beautiful, breathtaking range of hills. They are home to some of the most magnificent red deer in the country. They provide up in the tops some of the most breathtaking views in the lower North Island. But they can be unforgiving if the weather turns unexpectedly, or if you wander off the track. Carolyn and Rachel Ward followed a set of markers away from the track (they turned out to be different coloured markers to assist possum exterminators).
The family of an American mother and daughter rescued after they spent four near-freezing nights in the New Zealand bush have thanked those involved in bringing them to safety. Carolyn Lloyd carried her starving and exhausted daughter Rachel, 22, on her back as the pair tried to escape the Tararua Forest where they got lost during a hike on Tuesday. The women strayed from the path on what was supposed to be a one-day hike. [NZ Herald]While not particularly well equipped (beware the apparent safety of the "one day hike"), once lost they did most things right. They kept their heads, stayed together, supported each other, rationed scarce food, and (most of all) used branches to spell out a large "Help" on the ground, which was eventually spotted by a searching helicopter. For the search and rescue operators it was a textbook operation.
