Three mountaineers — two from the United States and one from Canada — who were missing for five days on Aoraki, New Zealand’s highest peak, died in the fall, New Zealand authorities announced Friday.
The men’s bodies were not found. But based on footprints glimpsed in the snow during the aerial survey, and items believed to belong to them recovered from the cliffs this week, the search for them is over, police district commander Vicki Walker told reporters.
The two Americans — Kurt Blair, 56, of Colorado and Carlos Romero, 50, of California — were certified alpine guides, according to the website of the nonprofit American Mountain Guides Association. The New Zealand authorities did not identify the Canadian climber at the request of his family.
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The men flew to a hut in the middle of the mountain on Saturday to begin their ascent, and were reported missing on Monday when they did not arrive to receive their scheduled transportation after the climb. Hours later, searchers found several climbing-related items believed to belong to the men, but there was no trace of them, police said.
The search operation was halted for three days due to treacherous weather conditions in the area. On Friday, drone operators spotted footprints in the snow and more items that authorities believe belong to the men.
The property – including clothing, an ice ax and energy gels – was spotted by helicopter and recovered.
“After reviewing the number of days the climbers were lost, the communication lost, the things we recovered, and our reconnaissance today, we do not believe the men survived,” Walker said. “We think they’re down.”
Walker added that the search would resume if more evidence emerged, but the deaths of the two men had been referred to the coroner.
Aoraki, also known as Mount Cook, is 3,724 meters (12,218 ft) high and is part of the Southern Alps, the scenic glacial mountain range that runs the length of New Zealand’s South Island. The settlement with the same name at its base is a destination for local and foreign tourists.
The peak is very popular among experienced climbers. Its terrain is technically challenging due to crevasses, avalanche hazards, variable weather, and movement of glaciers.
More than 240 deaths have been recorded on the mountain and in the surrounding national park since the beginning of the 20th century.
& Edition 2024 The Canadian Press
