On Tuesday 14 August, 1928, Evan Hayes and Laurie Seaman waved goodbye to their friends at Charlotte Pass and were never seen again. This was the first skiing tragedy in the Australian Alps. Both men were members of Millions Ski Club (now Sydney Ski Club), Hayes  (29) from Sydney and Seaman (34) from New York. Laurie Seaman is on the left in the photo.

On Tuesday 14 August, 1928, Evan Hayes and Laurie Seaman waved goodbye to their friends at Charlotte Pass and were never seen again. This was the first skiing tragedy in the Australian Alps. Both men were members of Millions Ski Club (now Sydney Ski Club), Hayes  (29) from Sydney and Seaman (34) from New York. Laurie Seaman is on the left in the photo.

A party consisting of Hayes, Seaman, L. Douglas, E. Sodersteen, T. Bottrell and R. Utne left Betts Camp about 10 am. The only destination they had agreed upon was Charlotte Pass as Hayes and Seaman intended to return to Betts Camp for lunch and then return to Hotel Kosciusko. Thus the party had carried no extra clothing or food. It should be noted that there was no accommodation between Betts Camp and the summit. The Chalet at Charlotte Pass would be built two years later.

A party consisting of Hayes, Seaman, L. Douglas, E. Sodersteen, T. Bottrell and R. Utne left Betts Camp about 10 am. The only destination they had agreed upon was Charlotte Pass as Hayes and Seaman intended to return to Betts Camp for lunch and then return to Hotel Kosciusko. Thus the party had carried no extra clothing or food. It should be noted that there was no accommodation between Betts Camp and the summit. The Chalet at Charlotte Pass would be built two years later.

By the time they had reached Charlotte Pass, Hayes and Seaman were about 400 m ahead of the rest of the party who stopped briefly at Red Hut on the Kosciuszko Road. Seaman and Hayes were then seen waving their poles as they skied over Charlotte Pass.

When the rest of the party reached Charlotte Pass there was no sign of Seaman and Hayes. It was thought that they may perhaps have skied down the Snowy River behind the Guthrie Range and up Spencer’s Creek to Betts Camp.

The rest of the group then decided to head for the summit of Mt Kosciuszko. When they reached Ethridge Range, about 4 km from the summit, a sudden blizzard arrived with an icy wind and fog reducing visibility to several metres. They decided to head back to Betts Camp which they reached at 4.30 pm.

There was no sign of Seaman and Hayes.

The photo shows Red Hut on the Kosciuszko Rd and, a short distance behind it, Charlotte Pass.

By the time they had reached Charlotte Pass, Hayes and Seaman were about 400 m ahead of the rest of the party who stopped briefly at Red Hut on the Kosciuszko Road. Seaman and Hayes were then seen waving their poles as they skied over Charlotte Pass.

When the rest of the party reached Charlotte Pass there was no sign of Seaman and Hayes. It was thought that they may perhaps have skied down the Snowy River behind the Guthrie Range and up Spencer’s Creek to Betts Camp.

The rest of the group then decided to head for the summit of Mt Kosciuszko. When they reached Ethridge Range, about 4 km from the summit, a sudden blizzard arrived with an icy wind and fog reducing visibility to several metres. They decided to head back to Betts Camp which they reached at 4.30 pm.

There was no sign of Seaman and Hayes.

The photo shows Red Hut on the Kosciuszko Rd and, a short distance behind it, Charlotte Pass.

In 1928 the major accommodation for skiers in the Kosciuszko area was at the Hotel Kosciusko (about 120 beds). The only other accommodation was at Betts Camp (16 beds) which was used for short stays (1-3 days), lunch breaks on ski tours and as a starting point for exploration of the Main Range. The distance between the Hotel Kosciusko and the summit was 27.6 km and Betts Camp was almost at the half-way point, 13.6 km.

Laurie Seaman perished where Seaman’s Hut is now located (bottom left of map, not far from the summit). Evan Hayes died at Lake Cootapatamba, just south of Rawson’s Pass (bottom left of map). Points of interest in the search for Seaman and Hayes outlined in blue are Betts Camp, Red Hut and Pound’s Creek Hut.

In 1928 the major accommodation for skiers in the Kosciuszko area was at the Hotel Kosciusko (about 120 beds). The only other accommodation was at Betts Camp (16 beds) which was used for short stays (1-3 days), lunch breaks on ski tours and as a starting point for exploration of the Main Range. The distance between the Hotel Kosciusko and the summit was 27.6 km and Betts Camp was almost at the half-way point, 13.6 km.

Laurie Seaman perished where Seaman’s Hut is now located (bottom left of map, not far from the summit). Evan Hayes died at Lake Cootapatamba, just south of Rawson’s Pass (bottom left of map). Points of interest in the search for Seaman and Hayes outlined in blue are Betts Camp, Red Hut and Pound’s Creek Hut.

Wednesday 15 August

By now it was clear that Seaman and Hayes were missing and that a search must be undertaken both by the inhabitants of Betts Camp and by guests of the Hotel Kosciusko. As there were no telephones available, Douglas was sent to the Hotel with the news and arrived there at dawn. A group of horse riders was sent up the Thredbo River from Jindabyne and a number of Hotel guests arrived at Betts Camp to supplement the search.

Bottrell and Utne climbed Charlotte Pass and skied down to the Snowy River. After a thorough search of the gorge, they skied back to Charlotte Pass and then to Betts Camp. Sodersteen and McGrath went down Spencer’s Creek and looked in Pound’s Creek Hut. The search team was now reinforced by arrivals from the Hotel Kosciusko.

Aalberg went down Spencer’s Creek to the Snowy River and then as far south as Blue Lake. He searched the neighbourhood of Charlotte Pass for several km in all directions.

Thursday 16 August

The first news of the incident appeared in the Sydney press.  Aalberg and Soderlund followed the Snowy as far as Guthega and then climbed over the Perisher and back to Betts Camp. Later in the day Aalberg and Hemmings covered some of the Rams Head Range up to and around Charlotte Pass.

Photo shows the Hotel Kosciusko in 1928.

Wednesday 15 August

By now it was clear that Seaman and Hayes were missing and that a search must be undertaken both by the inhabitants of Betts Camp and by guests of the Hotel Kosciusko. As there were no telephones available, Douglas was sent to the Hotel with the news and arrived there at dawn. A group of horse riders was sent up the Thredbo River from Jindabyne and a number of Hotel guests arrived at Betts Camp to supplement the search.

Bottrell and Utne climbed Charlotte Pass and skied down to the Snowy River. After a thorough search of the gorge, they skied back to Charlotte Pass and then to Betts Camp. Sodersteen and McGrath went down Spencer’s Creek and looked in Pound’s Creek Hut. The search team was now reinforced by arrivals from the Hotel Kosciusko.

Aalberg went down Spencer’s Creek to the Snowy River and then as far south as Blue Lake. He searched the neighbourhood of Charlotte Pass for several km in all directions.

Thursday 16 August

The first news of the incident appeared in the Sydney press.  Aalberg and Soderlund followed the Snowy as far as Guthega and then climbed over the Perisher and back to Betts Camp. Later in the day Aalberg and Hemmings covered some of the Rams Head Range up to and around Charlotte Pass.

Photo shows the Hotel Kosciusko in 1928.

Friday 17 August

The search party at Betts Camp was relieved by members of the Ski Club of Australia and the Kosciusko Alpine Club who had arrived from Sydney.  Aalberg and Soderlund arrived back at Betts after searching in the area of the summit and the Rams Head. They reported two sets of ski tracks leading from the summit towards Merritt’s Lookout. Also they found one set of ski tracks together with some boot marks at the summit.

The Sydney party skied down Spencer’s Creek and again examined Pound’s Creek Hut and searched the whole of the Snowy River from Spencer’s Creek to Guthega. During the day Aalberg and Soderlund passed within 50 m of where Seaman was ultimately found.

Meanwhile the Thredbo party had ridden up the Thredbo River to its source and then down to the Victorian border.  All huts in the region were visited but there was nothing to report.

The first airplane flew over the mountains.

Saturday, 18 August

Aalberg and the Sydney party went to the Rams Head to investigate the ski tracks in that area. The tracks were easily found, but lost on the Thredbo side of the range.  Aalberg and Gordon returned along the upper side of the Rams Head range but found no more tracks.

Sunday 19 August

As the only tracks had been found in the upper Rams Head area, it was decided to concentrate the search in that small area. The whole of the Rams Head Range from Betts Camp to within 3 km of the Rams Head itself was thoroughly searched. There was nothing to report.

Photo shows some members of the Seaman-Hayes search party.

Friday 17 August

The search party at Betts Camp was relieved by members of the Ski Club of Australia and the Kosciusko Alpine Club who had arrived from Sydney.  Aalberg and Soderlund arrived back at Betts after searching in the area of the summit and the Rams Head. They reported two sets of ski tracks leading from the summit towards Merritt’s Lookout. Also they found one set of ski tracks together with some boot marks at the summit.

The Sydney party skied down Spencer’s Creek and again examined Pound’s Creek Hut and searched the whole of the Snowy River from Spencer’s Creek to Guthega. During the day Aalberg and Soderlund passed within 50 m of where Seaman was ultimately found.

Meanwhile the Thredbo party had ridden up the Thredbo River to its source and then down to the Victorian border.  All huts in the region were visited but there was nothing to report.

The first airplane flew over the mountains.

Saturday, 18 August

Aalberg and the Sydney party went to the Rams Head to investigate the ski tracks in that area. The tracks were easily found, but lost on the Thredbo side of the range.  Aalberg and Gordon returned along the upper side of the Rams Head range but found no more tracks.

Sunday 19 August

As the only tracks had been found in the upper Rams Head area, it was decided to concentrate the search in that small area. The whole of the Rams Head Range from Betts Camp to within 3 km of the Rams Head itself was thoroughly searched. There was nothing to report.

Photo shows some members of the Seaman-Hayes search party.

Monday, 20 August

Seaman and Hayes had now been out for five nights and 12 mm of rain had destroyed all tracks. All of the snow country within a radius of 20 km of Betts Camp had been traversed. It seemed useless to continue the search for living men in the high country. The search from Betts Camp was abandoned  and the Sydney party returned to the Hotel Kosciusko.  Searches of the river valleys continued for several weeks

After that date touring parties often went to the summit of Mt Kosciuszko but it was on 9 September that Mr Mander Jones finally discovered the body of Laurie Seaman on a rocky outcrop near Sentinel Rocks. His jacket contained a camera with a roll of exposed film showing photos of Seaman and Hayes at the summit.

Monday, 20 August

Seaman and Hayes had now been out for five nights and 12 mm of rain had destroyed all tracks. All of the snow country within a radius of 20 km of Betts Camp had been traversed. It seemed useless to continue the search for living men in the high country. The search from Betts Camp was abandoned  and the Sydney party returned to the Hotel Kosciusko.  Searches of the river valleys continued for several weeks

After that date touring parties often went to the summit of Mt Kosciuszko but it was on 9 September that Mr Mander Jones finally discovered the body of Laurie Seaman on a rocky outcrop near Sentinel Rocks. His jacket contained a camera with a roll of exposed film showing photos of Seaman and Hayes at the summit.

One year later in summer 1929, Stockman, Jack Willis, discovers the body of Evan Hayes near Lake Cootapatamba whilst mustering sheep.

One year later in summer 1929, Stockman, Jack Willis, discovers the body of Evan Hayes near Lake Cootapatamba whilst mustering sheep.

Dr John Laidley, who reviewed the tragedy very carefully, has suggested that, after leaving the summit, Seaman walked back to retrieve his skis, which he had left on the Kosciuszko Road, and waited there for Hayes to join him. Meanwhile, Hayes skied down from the summit and, in the low visibility, went right instead of left at Rawson Pass. This resulted in Hayes going as far as the Rams Head Range above Thredbo before he realised his error and returned towards the summit finally succumbing near Lake Cootapatamba.

The parents of Laurie Seaman donated £200 towards the erection of a memorial hut in their son’s honour which was constructed by the NSW government in 1929.

Dr John Laidley, who reviewed the tragedy very carefully, has suggested that, after leaving the summit, Seaman walked back to retrieve his skis, which he had left on the Kosciuszko Road, and waited there for Hayes to join him. Meanwhile, Hayes skied down from the summit and, in the low visibility, went right instead of left at Rawson Pass. This resulted in Hayes going as far as the Rams Head Range above Thredbo before he realised his error and returned towards the summit finally succumbing near Lake Cootapatamba.

The parents of Laurie Seaman donated £200 towards the erection of a memorial hut in their son’s honour which was constructed by the NSW government in 1929.