Tongariro Crossing update.

At long last there has been a new flurry of warnings about the dangers of the Tongariro Crossing since the tragedy last week.  The pity was it was entirely preventable…

Thank you to everyone for their contributions – repeated below.

Thank you to Tongariro Expeditions for images from last Friday to illustrate the present conditions.  They were not operating Sunday due to the marginal changing weather conditions.

The worry is that during school holidays some tourists are unaware and may get carried away with their enthusiasm overcoming common sense.  The summer tourist season is about to commence and over 100,000 people will be tramping the Tongariro Crossing to mark it off their bucket list.  So this is a plea to be more cautious –  SWMBO cannot afford to lose guests.  OK?

To show the real frustration and concerns of local experienced trampers, the following is some “hard-hitting” correspondence received:

 

Hi Ross
I read your report today re the latest dead guy on the Crossing and the usual messages about what to wear do etc but here’s what does my head in…
1 – If you go online you will find reports from the same people/authorities over the past 10 years saying exactly the same stuff
2 – What has really been done to make people aware of the ‘weather’ and ‘appropriate’ clothes? 
Are there signs at both ends describing what is “appropriate clothing”?
Is there one website describing exactly what that is with pictures etc? No, it doesn’t exist, why not? Its simple it seems, no one authority or collective wants to be responsible and speak with one clear voice
Most people cannot read and understand a weather map let alone a forecast.
There are multiple forecasts, they all need interpreting – why can there not be one official weather forecast and an advisory?
It’s simple it seems, no one authority or collective wants to be responsible and speak with one clear voice
I get really sick of the individuals being the only ones blamed when the multiple authorities responsible for this from TNZ, DOC, Tangatawhenua, Shuttle operators etc do nothing differently.
Its time people stopped this BS blame game and – as they are all making money out of these people – took some collective responsibility and reviewed the messages they are sending and where these are published – or nothing will change and people will keep dying. 
Sure there is a degree of individual responsibility and yes some people will always make poor decisions and die no matter what actions are taken but that is not the primary reason this is happening with this frequency, and blaming tourists is a total crock of shit excuse for people who don’t want to look closer to home.
We are running a first world tourism experience with third world incompetent, negligent and borderline criminal management
BTW – was that a commercial operator who dropped them at that end of the track and if so why is it not a condition of their licence to never do that?
Anyway, here’s my 10c worth… now let stupidity, cliches and the collective irresponsibility resume 😉

Just in case you think we are over reacting (?) – TRM had our own fright a few years ago when some inmates got lost returning from the crossing.  Note the date – it was 16 December 2007.  Other tourist accommodation suppliers in Turangi can relate to similar experiences.

The Australian tourists wanted to tramp the crossing but their summer clothing was inadequate.  So SWMBO played mother and insisted on fitting them out in coats, (swannis) hats (beannies), gloves etc. just in case… (see image)  They left late and reached the Red Crater after everyone had gone, when the weather suddenly deteriorated and it started to snow.  Soon the track to Ketetahi was a complete white out and they ended up following the wrong track south east towards the Waihohonu Track.  When they failed to return the police were alerted.  We managed to make contact but their cell phone battery was just about flat.  They were eventually located by blipping their cell phone every half hour for the police squad to track them – about 3 am – waiting frozen about 100m from the hut, but did not realise it was there.  They were only saved by the additional warm alpine clothing.  OK?  At all times of the year people need to take more care in the Tongariro National Park.

This is TRM’s recommendation to avoid the Tongariro Crossing drama: