Marilyn Koolstra
👤 SpeakerAppearances Over Time
Podcast Appearances
Alan pitched his tent on the ice, and the party of four huddled inside. They spent an entire day trapped in that tiny cocoon. Then, on the morning of Saturday, March 9th, with the storm still blasting outside, Alan told the group he was going to scout for a way off the glacier. He put on his coat and crampons, but left his climbing helmet and stepped out into a swirl of snow.
Alan pitched his tent on the ice, and the party of four huddled inside. They spent an entire day trapped in that tiny cocoon. Then, on the morning of Saturday, March 9th, with the storm still blasting outside, Alan told the group he was going to scout for a way off the glacier. He put on his coat and crampons, but left his climbing helmet and stepped out into a swirl of snow.
The weather cleared a few hours later. The party was by that point overdue. A search and rescue team flew up to the glacier that afternoon to retrieve the stranded climbers. All but Alan, who they couldn't find. Eric arrived back in Wanaka that same day. He expected to find Alan there. Instead, he experienced a role reversal.
The weather cleared a few hours later. The party was by that point overdue. A search and rescue team flew up to the glacier that afternoon to retrieve the stranded climbers. All but Alan, who they couldn't find. Eric arrived back in Wanaka that same day. He expected to find Alan there. Instead, he experienced a role reversal.
Now, Eric was the one making phone calls to let friends and family in Australia know Alan was missing.
Now, Eric was the one making phone calls to let friends and family in Australia know Alan was missing.
Eric called me and he was extremely upset. You know, I had to keep asking, what did you say? Tell me that again. Explain what happened.
Eric called me and he was extremely upset. You know, I had to keep asking, what did you say? Tell me that again. Explain what happened.
It took two days for the rescuers to find Alan, his lifeless body tucked under an ice shelf at the glacier's edge. It appeared he had lost his footing and fallen on a steep section of ice. He'd probably flailed as he picked up speed, trying to stop the slide. But he couldn't. One of his crampons had come off. Alan launched over the edge, making a 10-meter drop onto bedrock.
It took two days for the rescuers to find Alan, his lifeless body tucked under an ice shelf at the glacier's edge. It appeared he had lost his footing and fallen on a steep section of ice. He'd probably flailed as he picked up speed, trying to stop the slide. But he couldn't. One of his crampons had come off. Alan launched over the edge, making a 10-meter drop onto bedrock.
and no crampons and the black ice and the rocks, bang.
and no crampons and the black ice and the rocks, bang.
He was scooted back into a hollow, in a seated position, suggesting he survived the initial fall and sought shelter from the weather. But he had suffered severe chest and head trauma. A coroner later determined Alan died from internal bleeding.
He was scooted back into a hollow, in a seated position, suggesting he survived the initial fall and sought shelter from the weather. But he had suffered severe chest and head trauma. A coroner later determined Alan died from internal bleeding.
He was cremated in Wanaka. Eric went to that small ceremony or that happening with Alan's wife, Amanda.
He was cremated in Wanaka. Eric went to that small ceremony or that happening with Alan's wife, Amanda.
Alan's death weighed on Eric. His anguish poured out in phone calls with Marilyn.
Alan's death weighed on Eric. His anguish poured out in phone calls with Marilyn.