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Update on Aussies missing on Mt Cook 16-Dec-2008 At 8:37:12 AM JohnK

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Thanks for the report Steve. Some good lessons there for all of us including aspiring mountaineers.

It also did sound somewhat un-usual that they decided to descend unroped. Standard practice most of the time in my mind is that the weakest climber decends first roped to the stronger climber above and places some pro like a snow stake or ice screw if there is a difficult section coming up below them. All the ridges on Cook and the sourrounding peaks are notorious for having rotten snow and ice steps that can really test your footwork especially with a heavy pack. A bit of shame that they did not utilise the information and advice given by others in Plateau Hut, but hindsight is a wonderfull thing I guess.

Condolences to the family and R.I.P.