Anniversary Recall: Close Call for Mountain Climber's Survival
In a harrowing incident on June 14, 2021, climber Tom O'Leary from Christchurch found himself caught in an avalanche on Mt Alma in the Two Thumbs Range, Canterbury. His climbing partner, Josh Gold, was also involved in the accident.
The incident occurred while they were climbing the northeast ridge of Mt Alma. In the days leading up to their trip, Tom noticed that there had been a lot of wind and it was really cold. Despite these conditions, they had chosen Mt Alma due to its location, hoping to miss most of the new snow and have firm conditions.
However, they made a crucial assumption that proved to be dangerous. They left their avalanche gear behind, assuming the snow cover would still be very thin. Tom now admits that they should not have taken the route on Mt Alma and should have been more aware of the conditions and avalanche danger.
The avalanche was triggered by a 'whumph' sound, and Tom started to slide. He managed to stabilize himself twice during the avalanche, rolling onto his front and trying to self-arrest with his ice axe. However, at times, he struggled to breathe.
Tom's partner, Josh, used a 'barrel roll' technique to get out of the avalanche higher up. After the avalanche, Tom noticed he was bleeding and had a large cut on his leg.
Since the incident, Tom does things differently when it comes to trip and terrain planning. He suggests that when planning a route, one should step back and think about the conditions rather than assuming it won't be a problem. He encourages others to keep track of the weather before a trip, not just the forecast.
Tom also advises checking past New Zealand Avalanche Advisory (NZAA) public observations if possible. He has since completed an avalanche-related course and has more scheduled. Tom hopes others will do the same and learn from his experience.
This account is based on data from Avalanche Incidents in New Zealand, our website 2021.
