Two climbers were rescued from the Remarkables early yesterday.
Queenstown's Alpine Cliff Rescue team co-leader Chris Prudden said a five-strong team responded after one of the climbers activated a personal locator beacon (PLB) about 10.30pm on Saturday.
The team was flown to within an hour's climb of the pair by a Heliworks helicopter pilot using night vision goggles, and started its ascent from above Wye Saddle.
Mr Prudden said the pair, a female United States national and a Christchurch man, raised the alarm after being caught ‘‘benighted'' in bad weather on the summit of Single Cone.
They were unsure of the route off the peak, and had only 10m of visibility in cloud and squally showers.
The rescue team was deployed after the woman called 111 on a cellphone and was advised to activate her PLB.
Mr Prudden said he was able to talk to the woman by cellphone, and directed the pair to move to a more sheltered position in the south gully of Single Cone.
The team found the pair cold but uninjured.
The group descended in whiteout conditions about 1am, in rain and strong winds.
