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Opinion - THE WIMPY MEDIA TRIO...
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 I must admit my sense of humour waned somewhat over the period of this issue, as what was really at stake here and the facts of this incident became clear to me. Your emails not only kept me encouraged but did thankfully keep a wry smile on my face. I have basically rescripted the event below in several forms to try and make sense of the issues, as I saw them unfold before me. Cheers!
The Basic Story
Three trampers who arrived at Barker Hut (1560m) in Arthur's Pass National Park on Sunday 10th February 2008, failing to heed heavy rain warnings issued officially on Friday 8th February, and initially forecast accurately from Tuesday 5th February. As a result of this they not only took risks getting to the hut due to the rapidly rising White River, but also became entrapped at the hut for Monday 11th February.
Rain ceased early next day, and the White River receded to its near normal flow-rate, as is normal with these high, glacier-fed streams. At this time a climbing party of three easily ascended the river to Barker Hut. Also on this same day the tramping party decided they would use the Hut Mountain Radio to request a helicopter to transfer them from the hut so as they did not miss planned flights and other engagements in the North Island. A long standing bylaw of the Plan of Management of Arthur's Pass National Park states that "positioning recreationists using aircraft" is not a permitted activity in the Park, unless the situation is that of an emergency. The party was told this, and decided to fabricate an "emergency" by claiming food shortages and dangerous flooded rivers. Police SAR operations in Christchurch determined from the information available (these trampers' information, weather forecasts, local knowledge & telemetry from automatic weather stations 5km from Barker Hut, and the fact they were comfortable in a hut with good communications & water supply) that this situation did not constitute a genuine emergency, therefore the Department of Conservation invoked the bylaw. The trampers were requested to remain at the hut until the weather improved. The Police were never informed of the presence of another party at the hut, or that the weather and river conditions had indeed improved.
As a result of this determination, the Mountain Radio operator and the tramping party decided that media attention was necessary to force the Police and DOC to change their determination. This media attention was directed primarily through the Fairfax Media - "The Press" newspaper, appearing initially as a biased and negative front-page article on Wednesday 13th February, it was also enacted through television coverage. At this stage the Police SAR role took a back seat, as these trampers and Mountain Radio operator interacted preferentially with the media. This party was not the only trampers in the Park caught by the weather, others (including international visitors) were held up at Goat Pass Hut, and Locke Stream Hut (both huts had good comms with DOC), all were well prepared and walked out on Tuesday with little discomfort.
On Wednesday 13th February, this tramping party decided to walk out, they told the media that the river was still treacherous. They managed to walk out to Klondyke Corner near Arthur's Pass in 4-5 hours. This same day, the climbing party present at the hut made an ascent of nearby Mt Murchison in good weather conditions.
On Thursday 14th February, the climbing party exited Barker Hut to discover the extent of the media coverage of a series of events that they duly were eyewitnesses. This prompted them to write to the editor of The Press to state their own account that evening (this account was eventually published on Saturday 23rd February, a good 9 days later). I were also made aware of this account simultaneously as The Press, interpreting this event as nothing more than a blatant hoax and an attempt to create a poor precedent & attack against this worthy Park's Plan of Management. My opinion was expressed emotively/angrily on this website's front-page.
By Friday 15th February, The Press, through an editorial made attempts at retracting its original stance, in response to a growing public tide of support for the decision made by Police/DOC. This response was reflected also in my email inbox with 259 supportive emails, with numerous copies of letters to editor stating same. This issue did not die easily, and was resurrected daily in reader letters and articles published in The Press supportive of the Police/DOC decision until present (Sat 23rd February).
This incident raises several important issues...
- The fragility of the Plan of Management for this National Park, in that a simple precedent could easily jeopardise an aspect of this park that most park users uphold as one of its primary values.
- The poor journalistic ethos and skills held by one of this countries major news reporting corporates. This is directly demonstrated by the onus being placed on readers to correct factual information poorly researched or amateur in nature, retrospectively after publishing, in specially set aside parts of the publication for this purpose (and I don't mean "letters to the editor"). I would have imagined a front page article that contained such emotive bias might have been fact-checked by the chief editor, not sensationalised just because one of the trampers had Reality TV credentials.
- The lack of professionalism shown by a Mountain Radio operator being influenced by personal agendas, in creating an environment of conflict and possible mistrust rather than focusing on the actual incident and finding resolutions. Hopefully this situation was only a one-off misjudgment on the part of this radio operator, as without doubt his dedication to the Mountain Radio Service cannot be questioned.
- This incident also reflects the changing face of park users and their expectations. In this case however I suspect "ego" was a considerable component of it.
- Most protagonists of the decision not to allow an "air-taxi" into the Park point the finger at DOC and it's policies, when in actual fact had it been an urgent or emergency situation the Police decision would automatically come into effect and a chopper (irrespective of whether the trampers paid or the tax-payer) would have been there pronto if weather permitted it. These trampers said themselves it was not an emergency. The spectre of hunger and flooded rivers was contrived later, once they were made aware of what conditions were attached to aircraft landings in the Park, and to support their argument in the media. In effect they blatantly lied - the Police/DOC/SAR acted in good faith on the information these trampers presented, unknowing of the true facts (even with the mis-information the solution was still the same) - what is the solution to this aspect of the story? This is the first time in my 14 years experience in SAR in Arthur's Pass that someone has fabricated a false incident to simply obtain a helicopter ride.
The Rules (Extracts from APNP Plan of Management)
Arthur's Pass National Park - Plan of Management 6.4.8 - Aircraft
6.4.8(a) - Park management includes those works/activities necessary for the effective management of the Park. The use of aircraft is necessary to enable the efficient servicing of the Park (e.g. hut maintenance) and search and rescue and fire control operations. Aircraft undertaking authorised Park management are permitted to land or hover anywhere in or over the Park, but should make best endeavours to minimise any adverse effects of aircraft activity on the public. This may involve avoiding aircraft activity during peak recreational use times, using quieter aircraft and/or notifying the public of aircraft activity, where feasible.
6.4.8(b) – (Extracts) Minimal aircraft activity across the whole Park is a distinctive feature of Arthur’s Pass National Park compared with other national parks and is highly regarded by Park users. There is no traditional usage of the Park by aircraft for scenic flights, heli-skiing or positioning recreationists such as climbers and hunters. The Park is easily reached by road and rail, is reasonably accessible by foot, and opportunities exist outside the Park for aircraft use in an alpine environment. A continuation of a restrictive policy is appropriate to retain the Park as an alpine area very largely free from aircraft
operations not directly concerned with Park management or essential needs associated with utility and other services.
6.4.8(c) - (Extracts) Except as provided by 6.4.8(a), to require aircraft taking off or landing within the Park to have a concession. Aircraft use within the Park, in accordance with 6.4.8(b), should not be approved for other than the following circumstances:
i. wild animal control;
ii. locating and retrieving for the Coast to Coast event, temporary ground repeaters at three sites (Kellys Hill; south-east ridge of Mt Blimit; Mt Williams) over a three-day period per annum; or
iii. the following exceptional circumstances:
...
(f) public safety and logistical support where essential for existing concession approved sporting events, being the Coast to Coast and Avalanche Peak Challenge;
6.4.8(d) - (Extracts) Aircraft use within the Park should not be approved for scenic flights, heli-skiing heli-hiking or positioning recreationists. |
The way I interpreted the facts of this incident...
Note: I have now depersonalised this section as we are now beyond that level of attack!
Friday 8th February - (0mm Carrington Hut Rain Guage)
- These guys arrive at Goat Pass Hut while many officials from Coast to Coast Race are in residence. Everybody in hut (including them) listens to the mountain weather forecast. It spells out in no uncertain terms that the weather was to turn Saturday evening, and Sunday/Monday had heavy falls of rain expected about the Alps.
Saturday 9th February - HEAVY RAIN WARNING ISSUED FOR MOUNTAINS FOR SUNDAY/MONDAY (0mm Carrington Hut Rain Guage)
- The Coast to Coast Race officials at Goat Pass Hut actually were concerned enough to note that... "I had some serious doubts about their ability. The route they were initially planning was almost impossible with the equipment they had (it was to climb over the Crow Glacier from the Crow Valley down to the Waimak Falls hut before doing the Three Passes. Their map was too small scale for persons unfamiliar with the territory.".
Sunday 10th February - HEAVY RAIN DEVELOPING / RIVER COMING INTO FLOOD (81.5mm Carrington Hut Rain Guage)
- These people arrived at the Barker Hut Sunday, not Saturday as reported. These people claim they tramped to the hut under the advice of a local (Arthur's Pass) hostel owner despite a current rain warning issued for the area (available at the DOC Information Centre, on the phone, on the web). The forecast for heavy rain had been current since Sunday earlier that week. According to the hostel owner, "the men knew the weather was deteriorating and told him they would make their decision to go to Barker once they had gotten to Carrington hut." When they were dropped off at Klondyke, the river was low and the weather calm. "They represented themselves as experienced outdoorsmen. They could assess the conditions once they got up the valley. To blame me for their plight at Barker is complete nonsense. They are big boys. They should take some responsibility for their actions."
- Because the White River canyon was flooding when they arrived to it, and they were not carrying a tent, and they had poorly researched the route and were therefore unaware that a reasonable flood route to the hut existed - they then proceeded to take exceptional risks such as lassoing rocks on the opposite side of the canyon and pendulumed on rope across the canyon in flood.
Monday 11th February - RIVER FLOODING (57.5mm Carrington Hut Rain Guage)
- On Monday they attempted a return crossing but were forced back, this was at the height of the storm.
Tuesday 12th February - RIVER NOT FLOODING (14mm Carrington Hut Rain Guage)
- On Tuesday, they decided without checking the water level in the canyon to use the mountain radio to call for a helicopter, they were not interested in advice, weather forecasts etc, they wanted a helicopter. Very importantly neither was it a call for help, in actual fact they said they were quite comfortable. Had they said initially it was an emergency, immediate action would have taken place (DOC would not have become involved as the SAR process is automatic). This is the same day the other climbing party peacefully wandered up the White River to Barker Hut with no hassle whatsoever. They made no attempt this day at crossing the river.
- Police SAR were never informed that another party had arrived at the hut on Tuesday.
- The Mountain Radio Service operator made a call to the local helicopter company to arrange a "repositioning flight" for these trampers. The helicopter company being completely aware of the aircraft bylaws in the Park, inquired of DOC if permission had been approved and was told that it had not been. DOC inquired if it was an emergency to the Mountain Radio operator and told him that Police SAR would decide whether this extraction was in fact considered an emergency. DOC was confronted by a barrage of attitude.
- The Mountain Radio operator spoke again to Barker Hut. When these people were told a flight would not be permitted except in an emergency situation they told him the river was still uncrossable (a blatant lie) and they were running out of food (also dubious information). Police considered this information in conjunction with weather forecasts, and local knowledge which suggested walking out, if not now, would certainly be an option by the following day and told the Mountain Radio operator this resolution, and that the trio should stay at the hut until the weather improved. At this stage the Mountain Radio operator upped the anti on his attitude with threats of going to the media, or telling the party to trigger their PLB (it is unclear if they actually had one) to initiate a SAR operation, he was told quite plainly this would constitute a criminal offence. Needless to say the Mountain Radio operator took this issue to newspaper, which also needless to say took up his cause with gusto. Unfortunately because of his decision to do this, he promptly forgot about giving constructive advice to the trampers in Barker Hut, however it is clear from my discussions with one of the trampers on Wednesday (when I picked him up at Klondyke) he had encouraged the Mountain Radio operator to continue the media attention. This tramper insisted to me he was "helping our cause" (I assume Arthur's Pass SAR). It is also clear that many of the messages that Police insisted be passed to them were not duly passed, however one message passed was that they should get on the radio and talk to the SAR Control Centre in Wellington about their predicament - this was never followed through. However they did get patched through to the media for interviews.
- In these interviews they went on to bag DOC for "forcing them to take extreme risks with their lives in crossing the river". In actual fact they were told to stay put, and of course if you read how they crossed the White Chasm on Sunday 10th getting to the hut these guys were quite adept at taking extreme risks and doing stupid things. And of course the river today was actually at near normal flow and didn't require such antics.
- The men confessed to the other climbing party in the hut, that there was economic rationale behind their request to call for a helicopter, connecting flights, other engagements etc and raged about the decision to not allow it.
- They went to bed on Tuesday night, having devoured a full meal made with their own resources, most likely washed down with the litre of Jamesons' they lugged up there.
Wednesday 13th February - RIVER NOT FLOODING (0mm Carrington Hut Rain Guage)
- Wednesday dawned clear, the other climbing party went off to climb Mt Murchison successfully. The three men decided to walk out, this decision was passed to Mountain Radio, then media. The river was at near normal flow, given their own photographs published in The Press. At Carrington Hut they chose to devote (waste) a couple of pages of valuable Hut Intentions Book to further their cause, though I suspect they hammered a further nail in their own coffin. They did not radio DOC from Carrington Hut to get river level estimates for the Waimakariri (Ecan has web viewable auto wx stns and flow monitors on this river) or let us know they had successfully not drowned in their "flooding river".
- Before midday on Wednesday, I was viewing the latest instalment on the news website of these people, and discovered they were walking out. At this same time we discovered that another party might be present in the Carrington Hut - Barker Hut area because of a concerned father who had been following the story of the "horrendous river conditions" in the media and was duly concerned about his son's possible safety (later on we discovered that this party had arrived at Barker Hut unhindered). I drove to the Bealey Bridge (because I had legitimate concerns given their story from Barker Hut) to check the level of the Waimakariri to discover, although high, was very crossable. I then proceeded to Klondyke Corner and encounted two of the trampers at the roadend, they said their third member was at least 1.5 hours behind them. I offered them a lift to Arthur's Pass, where DOC was very accommodating in allowing them acceptance of phonecalls (which all turned out to be media), they used the Internet at Arthur's Pass Store to rebook their flights and arrange shuttle journeys to ChCh. I rang Police to stand-down further potential operations, I also showed these guys how easy it would have been for them to be patched through to our local SAR operations room where considerable local advice was on hand (we were on standby from Tuesday), because the Mountain Radio operator only dealt through the media this never was considered an option by him. I spoke to the Mountain Radio operator on this radio, and stood him down, he was "surprised" by the speed in which they had got down from Barker Hut (4-5hrs is an extremely good time). He duly passed my comments onto the media as his and I could read them on the internet within 10 minutes.
- I returned to Klondyke Corner to look for the third tramper, I discovered two Australian fisher-persons (man & woman) fishing the Waimak, making multiple crossings as required. After waiting one hour I eventually saw the tramper through binoculars below Turkey Flat having occasional difficulty with the solo river crossings, he was using a branch to stabilise himself. He eventually reached me, and I inquired what he thought of his two companions abandoning him for his solo traverse down-river, he suggested "he would need to talk to them about that...". I returned him to Arthur's Pass, en-route I discovered that he was generally the instigator behind the media-frenzy and was quite proud of this, and hoped DOC would get a bollocking. I told him, quite calmly, I thought otherwise.
- They all returned to Arthur's Pass Store to catch the Atomic Shuttle to ChCh. Whilst there many conversations were overheard about how they would "play" the media on this one, right down to a discussion on leaving their putrid clothes on so they would smell like they had spent 3 days in the bush.
- GK -
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