Two climbers have been plucked from the Bryant Glacier, near Kinloch, after becoming disoriented in low cloud.
A 23-year-old Australian national and Department of Conservation employee and a 32-year-old Chilean man were airlifted from the glacier by strop about 3pm on Monday, five hours after activating an Epirb (emergency position indicating radio beacon).
Senior Constable Julian Cahill, of Queenstown, said an aerial search for the pair on Monday morning was unsuccessful because of low cloud, prompting the deployment of the Alpine Cliff Rescue Team.
The pair were then seen at their tent by someone in the helicopter carrying the team into the area, and they were airlifted immediately.
Sen Const Cahill said the pair entered the area on Saturday with the intention of climbing Mt Bonpland the next day before returning to their vehicle at the Glacier Burn car park. However, they became ''disoriented in the cloud on the ascent''.
''They tried various routes, but in the end gave up and bivvied for the night.''
Although the pair were well equipped, their predicament was possibly caused by inexperience, ''exacerbated by the lack of visibility''.
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