• About and Privacy Policy

Mountaingear blog

Mountaineering gear news, reviews and tests

  • Reviews
  • Mountain Safety
  • Tips
  • About and Privacy Policy
You are here: Home / Ice Axes / Death of a "Tragically Unprepared" Hiker

Death of a "Tragically Unprepared" Hiker

July 19, 2011 by Jonathan Rosenthal Leave a Comment

A life cut short - picture from facebook via NWZ online

I recently came across a really tragic story in the New Zealand press about the death of a hiker who had fallen and died after trying to cross a snowy pass without crampons or an ice axe. You can read more about it here.

The basic facts seem to be that the 23-year-old German, who was hiking in New Zealand in early winter (June) was trying to cross a pass in the Mt Aspiring National Park.  He is thought to have slipped and fallen over a 250 meter high cliff. According to the press reports, the local authorities and mountain rescue team said that:

“He slipped on what would have been a relatively low angle without having any equipment. A fall at that point would be 100 per cent fatal.”

If there is anything to take away from the absolutely tragic death of Julian Stukenborg then it is simply that one needs to be properly prepared and equipped.

  • Even relatively simple-looking crossings can be dangerous when ice and slopes are involved.
  • Have the proper gear and practise.
  • Make sure that you know how to self-arrest to stop a fall. I
  • f you have new gear, try it out so that you are instinctive in your reactions.
  • Know the conditions and know your limits.

 

 

Filed Under: Ice Axes Tagged With: mountain safety

About Jonathan Rosenthal

Hi
I'm an enthusiastic outdoor type of guy who unfortunately spends far too much time sitting in front of a computer and not enough time out in the hills.
This site is really about my personal passion for hiking and climbing and has nothing to do with my day job. All views expressed here are my own. If you'd like to know more about me please go to my Google page or if you would like to know more about my work visit my LinkedIn profile

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Search this site

South Africa’s Otter Trail in the Tsitsikamma National Park in widely regarded as the country’s best hiking trail. And it is with good reason: the spectacular trail winds along the edge of the coast, offering plenty of opportunities for swimming. Each of its huts has spectacular views of the ocean.

Recent Posts

  • Hiking the South African Otter Trail
  • The Nepal insurance scam
  • ‘The bivvy bag probably saved their lives’: couple lost in Cairngorms found safe | UK news | The Guardian
  • At least two (and possibly four) killed on Scottish mountains
  • Five skiers die in Austrian avalanche

Recent Comments

  • Jonathan Rosenthal on The Alpkit Tetri
  • The Alpkit Tetri | Mountaingear blog on Terra Nova Laser Competition 1 Tent Review
  • The Alpkit Tetri | Mountaingear blog on Lightwave Wildtrek 60 Pack Review
  • Bollocky Bill on The Alpkit Tetri
  • Liam on Mountain Hardwear Trango 2 Tent

Copyright © 2023 · Metro Pro Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in