Hot chocolates will greet a Western Australian father and daughter who are being pulled out of the treacherous snowy conditions at Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park today.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Tracey Koziniec has been in constant communication with her husband Terry and daughter Emily since dropping the pair at Cradle Mountain on Thursday morning.
Mr Koziniec has a GPS satellite communication device and is an experienced bushwalker.
The 50-year-old successfully hiked Cradle Mountain last winter and completed a one-week mountaineering and bush survival course to prepare for this year's hike.
RELATED
The Koziniec family arrived in Tasmania on Wednesday morning, with Mrs Koziniec staying in the state to be a precautionary communication point for her husband and daughter.
"That's why I was in Tassie, so I could relay if something went wrong and I have been in constant contact with the police," she said.
Mrs Koziniec drove to Cradle Mountain on Tuesday morning so she could be there when Mr Koziniec and 15-year-old Emily were evacuated.
"I'm looking forward to seeing them," she said.
Mrs Koziniec said the pair were well prepared for the conditions, with -20-degree sleeping bags and an appropriate tent.
"They had a warm night," she said.
On Sunday night Mr Koziniec messaged his wife to let her know they were moving slowly.
"I was concerned but knew they'd over prepared and had planned for even worse conditions and they said they were safe," Tracey said.
"They just wanted the next set of advice."
The experienced bushwalkers were at Lake St Clair National Park about 4pm on Sunday, trekking near Kia Ora Hut, when they reported being cold and tired, so they set up camp about one-kilometre south of Pelion Gap.
Mr Koziniec and Emily were walking towards Pelion Hut at Lake St Clair National Park on Monday, after the Westpac Rescue Helicopter was unable to reach the pair due to the weather.
Mrs Koziniec said the pair's preparation gave her reassurance.
"They planned for snow and had snow shoes on, but the snow was up to waist deep so they were not able to make good time and progress," she said.
"I know there are families that are probably having a much worse time than I am. It isn't nice, but they were prepared for what was going to happen."