Three hikers have called for help getting off Canterbury's Mt Somers.

Five hikers stranded on Canterbury's Mt Somers have been rescued.

Acting Sergeant Paul Spencer said three women, aged in their 20s, set off a personal locator beacon near Pinnacles Hut about 11.30pm on Thursday.

Police were able to speak with the women by phone, and found out they were unable to reach the hut because about 1.5 metres of snow had fallen.

Search and rescue personnel tried to reach the trio on Thursday night, but were turned back by bad weather.

The women were experienced trampers and had good equipment with them, including tents, Spencer said.

They set up camp in a sheltered area overnight, and searchers made a second attempt to reach them by helicopter on Friday morning.

"We don't know why the trampers set off with bad weather and snow forecast for the area but they did the right thing by setting off their beacon when they needed help," Spencer said.

"This gave us an accurate location of the group and luckily they [had] a cellphone signal so we were able to talk to them last night and reassure them."

Searchers found the women and were able to winch them to safety about 10.40am on Friday.

Two other trampers - a female and a male - had arranged to meet the three women at Pinnacles Hut and were picked up by rescuers at the same time.

The pair were also well prepared for extreme conditions and were experienced trampers, Spencer said.

"They are all well but extremely cold and are recovering in Methven."

Weather conditions in the area were deteriorating and police urged anyone planning a trip over the weekend to check the forecast and postpone if necessary, he said.