Climate of Our Future

Climate Crisis Coalition

New Zealand Guide Cancels Climbs Because of Global Warming
By John Henzell, The Fairfax News, September 11, 2007
“Gottlieb Braun-Elwert, owner of Alpine Recreation, climbed New Zealand’s highest peak last Friday. He said heavy crevassing on the Linda Glacier — the route that most climbers use – had made the route unacceptably dangerous. ‘It’s definitely global warming – there’s no doubt about that,’ he said. ‘As a result of a very hot summer and then a marginal snowfall this winter, the middle part of the Linda Glacier is badly broken up, forcing the ascent route right underneath the ice cliffs of Mount Silberhorn, exposing climbers to an unacceptably high level of risk.’ Braun-Elwert said there had recently been a metre of fresh snow but it had failed to resolve the crevasse problems, prompting him to suspend guiding on Mount Cook until spring storms dump more snow and make conditions safer. The decision is the second time in two years Alpine Recreation has suspended guiding on the Linda Glacier, but this is far earlier than on the last occasion. Warm temperatures and lean snow conditions in January 2006 prompted it to stop using the route.”