A 15-year-old Aucklander was found safe and well yesterday after becoming lost on Mt Ruapehu on Sunday night.
Justin Dent went missing from the top of the National Downhill Chairlift heading back towards the Iwikau Village.
He had never skiboarded before and was visiting the mountain with his family.
His family became alarmed
when he failed to meet them after snowboarding on Sunday afternoon.
But at 3.20pm yesterday Mr Dent was found near the head of the Whakapapaiti Valley during an aerial search.
During his 25-hour trek, he had came very close to the Bruce Rd before heading back towards the west.
He told rescuers he spent the night sheltering among rocks and, apart from being tired and hungry, was uninjured.
Search and Rescue incident controller Andy Brooke praised the efforts of all those involved in the search.
"This showed up, once again, the experience and skills of local search and rescue personnel.
"Careful planning and tight tasking of teams into the field paid off with a successful result," he said.
Mr Brooke said the incident presented a lesson as to how easy it can be to become disoriented in the mountains.
"It's really important to be warmly clad and if possible know something of the geography of the area you're in."
Five teams consisting of Department of Conservation, police, Ruapehu Alpine Rescue Organisation, Turangi Search and Rescue and Ruapehu Alpine Lifts personnel were involved in the search.
