Coroner raises questions on safety of Cascade Saddle

[wayno]

at the least i think they should alter the warning sign to make it more distinctive from normal doc signs.... it's one place that does need a warning sign given the repeated serious casualties.
i had a concersation with one young man going to do the saddle. rain was in the forecast, i told him it was potentially life. threatening to attempt it in the rain, but he was hell bent on doing the saddle regardless. you cant mitigate the risks for everyone.

[GPSGuided]

I agree. With a large enough cohort of human, people will put themselves in danger even in the safety of a home or a local park, let alone the great outdoors. Put up the sign, make the access somewhat challenging, then, anyone who comes up would be naturally selected individuals who are determined to put themselves in a place of danger. Let luck help them hence.

[roysta]

One of the country's leading experts in mountain safety is likely to be called in to determine whether a permanent safety rope should be installed along the treacherous Cascade Saddle in the Mt Aspiring National Park, west of Wanaka.

They could do worse than install via ferrata-type steel cables over the most dangerous section.
That would be better than ropes.

[wayno]

i think they are limited by what they can install because of the amount of snow that builds up.