The death of a woman while tramping last weekend has sparked safety reminders from agencies associated with backcountry rescues. 

Rebecca Woolley died while tramping on Mt Aitken Track in Arthur’s Pass National Park. She was separated from her tramping companion and reported missing at 7.30pm on Saturday (October 30) and her body was discovered the following day. 

The specifics of what took place are not yet available but Rebecca was known to be a lover of the outdoors.

A Wānaka Search and Rescue (SAR) representative told the Wānaka App that, especially going into the summer season, the tragedy was a timely reminder of the risks faced in the outdoors. 

The local SAR, which services Mt Aspiring National Park and the Upper Clutha area, is one of the busiest backcountry search and rescue groups in New Zealand, averaging 45-55 operations in a busy year.

Wanaka SAR recommends five key tramping guidelines: Choose the right trip ensuring it suits your skills and fitness; understand the changeable weather; pack extra clothing and food; tell someone where you are going and when you'll be back; carry in-reach beacons to text people, radio or sat-phone, or a personal locator beacon and use them if in trouble.

The Mountain Safety Council (MSC) has also shared some tramping and backcountry advice in the wake of Rebecca’s death, and its chief executive Mike Daisley added that sticking together is essential.

“Groups becoming separated is a common case for search and rescues, so if someone in the group is slower, adjust to their pace so you stay together and if you do separate, always wait for them at every track junction/bridge and keep them in eye contact to avoid separation,” he said.  

The organisation has recently created a new Plan My Walk App to help ensure trampers make it home safely.

The free app helps with track inspiration, before guiding the user through weather forecasts and alerts, any track information and relevant alerts, and a gear list. The plan page offers the ability to add details to the plan such as group members, a daily schedule and any important trip notes and documents, and all of this information is then shared to an emergency contact and group members. 

The app is the result of in-depth incident analysis which indicated that a concerning number of trampers who either sustain an injury, require search and rescue assistance, or tragically never make it home, are mostly avoidable.  

“It’s really easy to underestimate the importance of quality planning and preparation, there are lots of little things that can be easily overlooked, or if you’re new to tramping how do you know where to start and how do you effectively make a trip plan,” Mike said.

Find more information about staying safe in the outdoors here.

PHOTO: Supplied