The body of a 38-year-old German man was recovered today from
the Cascade Saddle area in the Mt Aspiring National Park.
Acting SAR co-ordinator Senior Constable Mike Johnston, of
the Wanaka Police, said a friend of the German tramper
contacted the police on Sunday and reported that the German
was overdue from a solo tramp in the National Park.
The tramper's body was found after an aerial search of a
section of the Cascade Saddle track approaching the area
known as the 'pylon'.
He had fallen on a snow patch very near the top of the climb.
He has been unable to stop his fall and slid down the snow
and over the edge of a ridge into a near vertical gully,
stopping approximately 200 metres below.
"This steep and challenging 'poled' route over the Cascade
Saddle is an alpine environment which requires a high level
of risk and in turn a high level of skill," Snr Const
Johnston said.
"This route should not be attempted unless key factors have
been evaluated, such as, fitness, alpine experience, weather,
and equipment. Falling in this slippery and steep terrain is
unforgiving".
The tramper will be named once family members in Germany have
been contacted.
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