Mohammad Thompson on Mt Ngāuruhoe. Photo: Mohammad_Thompson / supplied
A mountain climber says people climbing unprepared are putting themselves and the people who have to rescue them at risk.
Two men who climbed to the summit of Mt Ngāuruhoe dressed in normal clothes were rescued by police at the weekend.
The men, discovered by a climbing party, were dressed in street shoes, jeans, cotton T-shirts and cotton hooded sweatshirts.
With no alpine equipment they were unsure how to descend the mountain in increasingly icy conditions, police said.
Climber Mohammed Thompson, who met the men on their way up, said he explained to them it was too dangerous without proper gear, and encouraged them to turn around.
"I spent probably about 15 minutes with them explaining and showing them that, you know, you've got to have crampons and boots like what I had."
Two men were rescued by police helicopter from Mt Ngauruhoe after climbing to near the summit in day-walking gear and with no alpine equipment. Photo: Supplied / NZ Police
Thompson said he later came across the climbing group that found the men.
"They were just so shocked that they actually got to the summit."
Thompson said the "stupidity" of the men's actions put the group at risk "for no real reason".
"They had to stay up there until after dark, until a rescue was made".
Mt Ngāuruhoe, as seen from neighbouring Mt Tongariro. Photo: Mohammad_Thompson / supplied
Thompson, who mostly climbed Mt Taranaki, said he frequently saw climbers who were unprepared. Many were tourists.
He said in the last few years he has had to tell several people it was too dangerous to climb further up the mountain without proper gear and experience.
He said unprepared climbers were becoming "a bit of an issue", and action was needed to educate and deter them.
Inside the crater on top of Mt Ngāuruhoe. Photo: Mohammad_Thompson / supplied
