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Two Japanese climbers are facing another night trapped on the
slopes of Aoraki Mount Cook.
Winds are too high for rescuers to reach them or even throw a line
down, but on Wednesday afternoon they were able to drop some food
and a radio.
Search and rescue staff say they are now hoping to get in contact with the two climbers through the radio.
The missing climbers have been named as Kiyoshi Ikenouchi, 49, from Tokyo, who is the guide and Hideaki Nara, 51, also from Tokyo.
Alpine Rescue Team Leader Andrew Hobman says the helicopter managed to get close enough to drop the supplies, but not land.
"The pilot managed to sit in a hover, and get down to about 10-15 metres above them, and we threw out a drop bag which landed just beside the foot of the tent," says Hobman.
A 70 litre pack contained emergency rations, a radio with instructions, some food, clothing and a cooker with fuel.
One of the climbers came out of the tent and could be seen moving around.
Winds are still high in the rescue area where the two climbers have been trapped above 3700 metres since last week, and rescuers say it could be Saturday before they can reach the men.
The two men were due back at Mt Cook Village on Saturday. They were last seen on Friday when they were on the upper Empress Plateau.
The climbers are stranded in the very same spot on the mountain
where there was a dramatic rescue 26 years ago.
Back in 1982, Mark Inglis and another climber Phil Doole, survived
14 days trapped in the same spot.
Frostbite eventually claim both of Inglis legs.
Inglis says the weather was much the same, however that the "biggest difference, is that we were in an ice cave, we were right out of the wind."
He says whatever supplies the pair have, they must conserve them.
"The big thing is to plan to be there for a long time, and it's always a pleasant surprise if you can get out earlier," he says.
In the related video, Mark Inglis speaks from Christchurch about what it will be like for the two Japanese climbers on the mountain.
