An expensive search and rescue operation near Lake Hawea yesterday could have been avoided if clearer intentions were left by the tramper involved, Wanaka police and Land Search and Rescue representatives say.
Three LandSAR alpine cliff rescue team members and an Aspiring Helicopters pilot spent two hours conducting an aerial and ground search for a 26-year-old Wanaka woman who failed to return from a solo day-trip to Corner Peak on Monday.
An incident management team was also involved and two land-based teams were on standby.
Detective Sergeant Derek Shaw, of Wanaka, said the woman, who was an experienced mountain runner, planned to return the same day but took a sleeping bag and foil blanket with her in case an overnight stay was necessary.
While descending from the summit via the same steep route she had climbed up, a spur off the main track; she ran out of daylight.
She "hunkered down" for the night, then retraced her steps back up to the ridge early the next morning, before taking the main track back down and returning to her vehicle at Timaru Creek "fit and well", Det Sgt Shaw said.
She was reported overdue yesterday morning, because she had not clearly communicated to friends that staying overnight was a possibility and that she was prepared for that scenario.
"She knew her capabilities and her preparation and what her timings were, but that wasn't clear to her workmates and her flatmates."
LandSAR Wanaka volunteer Phil Melchior said while the tramper had done everything right in terms of her preparedness and decision-making, the incident underlined the "absolute need" to leave clear and detailed intentions when going into the outdoors.
He was concerned the new online Adventure Smart Outdoor Intentions system, which replaced the Department of Conservation's intention forms earlier this year, had been "insufficiently publicised, so that most people don't know it exists".
"If she'd [the tramper] used the Adventure Smart system then all the detail would have been there ... there would have been no misunderstanding and we could have saved ourselves about $5000 of helicopter time and a lot of effort," Mr Melchior said.
"We took it very seriously because we were working on the understanding that she was equipped for a day trip and the temperatures up there would have been ... well below zero, so we were obviously very concerned about the possibility of an injured person with hypothermia.
"The message is, familiarise yourself with Adventure System and just get in the habit of using it."
