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All involved in the avalanche have since been confirmed to be “accounted for and safe”.
A skier who was left “partially buried” after an avalanche 2000m up the Remarkables mountain range in Queenstown has spoken about how the experience for the first time.
Joe O’Conner, who is based in Queenstown, had planned to go skiing with his friend along the east aspect of the Doolans loop of the mountain on Saturday.
The pair checked the avalanche danger with the Remarkables Ski Patrol, completed snowpack tests and were carrying the right equipment – they “did everything right”.
But all it took was “one wrong step,” O’Conner told the Mountain Safety Council New Zealand.
At about 11am his friend was in front of him as they were skiing back up the hill against the backdrop of what O’Conner described as a “mint day”.
O’Conner was about 20m behind his friend when he saw a piece of snow crust break off and start sliding towards him.
“Once that went there was a big wind slab just about 50 metres above us, and then it all dropped.
“I just couldn’t turn my skis in time. Before I knew it, I was covered in slab and I couldn’t move, and I started just sliding down the hill.”
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The avalanche began at 1800-2000 metres up the Remarkables mountain range.
Having slid about 100 metres, O’Conner found himself buried waist-deep in snow.
“I managed to get my pack off and dig myself out.”
For O’Conner, it all happened “so fast”.
“You know, we were there, and then I just heard a boom, like a shotgun had gone off next to me, and then before I knew it, I was sliding, and I couldn’t control where I was going.”
He described the whole day as an “eye-opener”.
“You know you’re always aware of the risks of going into the backcountry, but we definitely should’ve shown a lot more caution.
“We thought we were doing the best we could with gathering info and tests, we just got a bit too comfortable thinking everything was fine, and that’s all it took, one wrong step.”
O’Conner thanked the quick response from the rescue teams.
According to NZ Mountain Safety Council chief executive, Mike Daisley, the avalanche was “triggered by a skier while multiple parties were in the vicinity of the avalanche”.
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Six people have already been airlifted to hospital, five of whom are suffering from hypothermia.
The avalanche ran on the Persistent Weak Layer (PWL), which the New Zealand Avalanche Advisory (NZAA) has been reporting on in the Queenstown region avalanche advisory since early in the season.
“Given the presence of this PWL and the multiple large avalanches we have seen around the regions recently, there is a very real sense that this situation could have easily resulted in tragedy,” Daisley said.
Earlier on Saturday, a police spokesperson confirmed two people had to be rescued after a magnitude 3-3.5 (large-very large) avalanche in the area they were skiing.
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O’Conner described the experience as “pretty scary”.
The two people have been “accounted for and are safe”, the spokesperson said.
Three helicopters were used to fly in ski patrol staff and dog teams from other ski areas just after 12:15pm.
Police Search and Rescue, Coronet Peak, Remarkables and Cadrona Ski Patrol teams along with 3 dogs on scene and an incident management team set up at Remarkables base, assisted in locating the two people.
The location was just to the southeast of the Sugar Bowl area, over the ridge into the Doolans catchment at about 1800-2000 metres altitude.
The crown wall, the start point of the avalanche, was about 2 meters deep and was about 200 meters long.
The avalanche risk is now moderate, 2 out of 5 on a scale of 1-5.
“Police would like to thank those involved in the search for their swift response that led to locating the pair safe and sound.
“This is a timely reminder that the risk of avalanches in these conditions is real.”
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