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The death of Wānaka resident Stephanie Simpson in Mount Aspiring National Park in 2020 provides important safety lessons for those tramping solo in New Zealand, the New Zealand Mountain Safety Council says.
The British woman, then aged 32, was a tramper with a high fitness level and living and working in Wānaka, the safety council said in a statement.
On February 8, 2020, she set off from Fantail Falls carpark to Brewster Hut in Mount Aspiring National Park, near Haast Pass.
The Brewster Track was classified as an advanced tramping track and climbed steeply into alpine terrain before reaching Brewster Hut at an elevation of 1140m.
According to data recovered from her Garmin watch, Ms Simpson rested at the hut before leaving the track and going towards Brewster Glacier.
She then turned around and returned a different way, initially back towards the hut.
But for unknown reasons she descended into a steep valley.
Police were contacted on February 9 by trampers she had earlier met on the track and noticed her car was still parked at Fantail Falls carpark.
Her employer also got in touch on February 10 after she did not turn up to work. A search and rescue operation started on February 11.
A helicopter crew found her pack on February 14.
Search and rescue crew found her boots and then her body 800m downstream of Pyke Creek.
Coroner Alexander Ho found Ms Simpson likely tripped or fell as she approached Cameron Creek and subsequently drowned, the release said.
The council provided a report to the coroner, which identified possible contributing factors and recommendations to prevent future similar tragedies.
The reasons for Ms Simpson’s deviation were unclear, but the council said in the release it noted possible reasons and challenges included navigational errors, environmental challenges and a potential slip or fall.
The council said people needed to take care of themselves and others.
It recommended those heading to terrain such as that around Brewster Hut and Mt Armstrong consider small group travel instead of going solo.
Between July 2008 and May 2023, 40 people tramping solo in New Zealand died. Of those, 16 were on a day walk.