Two Japanese climbers trapped on Aoraki/Mount Cook may not realise a pack of emergency provisions was dropped near them yesterday.
The pair remain stranded today as rescuers wait for a break in the foul weather to attempt to pluck them to safety.
Yesterday, a helicopter managed to get
close enough to drop a pack of emergency provisions and a radio to the pair, but was unable to land, Constable Brent Swanson said.
During the drop, one of the climbers emerged from their red tent and waved, easing rescue team concerns about a lack of life on the mountain.
The 70 litre pack contained emergency rations, a cooker and fuel and a radio with instructions in Japanese, landed right by the tent.
A Japanese speaking Department of Conservation officer has tried to make radio contact with the pair but there has so far been no response.
Inspector Dave Gaskin of Timaru said yesterday police were not too worried by the lack of radio contact from the climbers as the pack had been dropped from 10m and could have been damaged.
Also, it had landed behind the tent and as they were not "out enjoying the view" they may not realise it is there, he said.
It was also possible the men were stranded in an area with bad reception.
Mr Gaskin said today the climbers were "pretty well off, much better than I thought they'd be".
The weather was still "wet, snowing and blowing" and the safety of the rescue crew was the main concern, he said.
Winds are still high in the rescue area where the two men have been trapped above 3700m since last week, and Mr Gaskin said it could be Saturday before the pair was rescued.
The two men, named as Kiyoshi Ikenouchi, 49, from Tokyo, the guide, and Hideaki Nara, 51, also from Tokyo, were due back at Mt Cook Village on Saturday.
They were last seen on Friday when they were on the upper Empress Plateau.
- NZPA
