Two Dutch nationals were ''a bit cold'' after being plucked from Ben Lomond about 3am yesterday.
Senior Sergeant Paula Enoka, of Queenstown, said the two men began climbing the mountain on Monday morning and reached the summit.
''They left the summit about 1.45 in the afternoon taking the west ridge towards Fernhill.
''They got lost.''
Lakes District Air Rescue Trust manager Ed Halson said two teams of LandSAR volunteers conducted a ground search, while and LDART helicopter with two crewmen and a pilot - all equipped with night-vision goggles - was also deployed.
After about six hours of searching Mr Halson said the men were spotted from the helicopter.
Snr Sgt Enoka said they were found on the Moke Lake side of the ridge.
She was not able to confirm yesterday the two men's ages or how raised the alarm.
It is the second operation on Ben Lomond within a week - on Friday a Taiwanese national, who lives in Christchurch, was rescued from near Ben Lomond summit after her husband tracked her location with his phone.
Last October Australian tourist Robert Galdamez spent two nights on Ben Lomond after losing the track on his descent. He was found 30 hours later by search crews and treated for hypothermia, having only a puffer jacket for protection from snow.
Snr Sgt Enoka said it was a timely reminder for people to take care and be prepared if they were planning on heading into the outdoors.
''People are going into these trails and some advice around that is make sure people know your plans, know when you are expected back and timeframes, that you are prepared in the event you get lost.''
-By Louise Scott
