KEY POINTS:
Police have grave concerns for the safety of Auckland tramper Irina Yun as stormy conditions move into Mt Aspiring National Park, near Wanaka, where she has been missing for two days.
Ms Yun, 36, left Mt Aspiring Hut to cross Cascade Saddle at 7am on Wednesday. She was last seen at 9.30am and by evening had not arrived at Dart Hut as planned.
Search team member Constable Mike Johnston told NZPA today that a thorough search of the poled route she was taking was made yesterday, without success.
The weather in the area on Wednesday was harsh, with heavy rains and snow above 1800m.
These conditions wiped out any footprints searchers were keen to find.
Yesterday was the "window of opportunity" for both helicopter and ground-based searchers, as a storm moved into the area today.
Mr Johnston said there would be no further opportunity to look for Ms Yun until tomorrow at the earliest.
In the meantime, police are investigating the possibility that she has walked out of the national park.
"The best scenario for us is that she's not there."
This was a long shot, however, and she had not made contact with anyone since she headed into the mountains.
Mr Johnston said searchers did not know how experienced Ms Yun was in alpine tramping, nor how well-equipped she was.
"We do not believe she had a tent. We know that she had wet weather gear but we are not sure what type of footwear she had."
When searchers get back into the mountains, they will focus on rivers in the area, which are likely to be swollen.
"Obviously streams and rivers are where something can go wrong," Mr Johnston said.
Search and Rescue coordinator Sergeant Aaron Nicholson said the area where Ms Yun was last seen was hazardous and there had been fatal accidents there in the past.
Police are keen to hear from anyone who had seen Ms Yun.
She is of Korean descent, of medium build with long black hair and was wearing a yellow parka, green trousers and carrying a walking pole.
- NZPA
