A search has begun in freezing conditions in the Snowy Mountains for a Canberra bushwalker who went missing near Thredbo.
At least seven police and State Emergency Service volunteers trained in alpine operations headed out just before 1am on Sunday to look for 61-year-old Bing Wei, who last had contact with someone about 2.30pm on Saturday, telling them he was at a chairlift at Thredbo. More people joined the search on Sunday morning.
Temperatures fell to minus 8 degrees at the top of the resort on Saturday night, with winds gusting up to 63km/h.
Conditions near the top of Mount Kosciuszko on Sunday morning.Credit: Thredbo Live Cam
Wei’s car has been found at the Cascades car park near Dead Horse Gap, about seven kilometres south-west of Thredbo.
Relatives told police Wei was planning to go bushwalking, but police do not know whether Wei had any supplies, nor if he had appropriate gear and clothing, or any bushwalking experience.
Bing Wei travelled to Thredbo from Canberra yesterday.
He left his car at the start of a five-kilometre walk that finishes at the top of Thredbo’s Kosciuszko chairlift, which has an elevation of 1930 metres.
Thredbo closed for skiing and snowboarding on Wednesday, but its main Kosciuszko chairlift is still taking foot passengers to the top for scenic rides and to give experienced skiers and boarders access into the back country.
The Dead Horse Gap walking trail, which begins near the Cascades car park, where Wei left his car, takes between 90 minutes and two-and-a-half hours to complete.
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