[[{"type":"brightcove","src":"https://players.brightcove.net/4915776650001/l0k69HSY_default/index.html...","odtEmbed":true}]]Two climbers spent almost 24 hours on the Remarkables mountain range this week after being caught in an avalanche.
In a statement, a police media spokesperson said Queenstown police were notified two people had requested rescuing from Double Cone just before noon on Tuesday.
The pair had earlier been caught in an avalanche but avoided burial and extracted themselves, uninjured.
They moved a short distance to a relatively-safe area nearby, however, due to the avalanche danger they were not able to safely move from there.
The media statement says weather conditions were poor - high winds and blowing snow affected visibility and while two attempts were made on Tuesday to deploy an alpine rescue team by helicopter, conditions prevented that.
"The climbers were advised to dig a snow cave and shelter overnight, ahead of a further rescue attempt [yesterday].
"The two climbers were experienced in the mountains and well-equipped for a night in the snow cave," the statement says.
Another attempt was made to reach the climbers yesterday morning, but the weather conditions made that "impossible".
"The helicopter was able to land the alpine rescue team 1.2km away and 300m below the climbers' position."
The team made their way to the climbers just after 10.45am yesterday, with the weather clearing soon after allowing the helicopter to reach the party and extract them from the mountain.
"The climbers were shaken by the event and felt that there was no way they could have made it off the mountain unassisted, due to the dangerous avalanche conditions."
