In brief
Police authorities announced their belief that three climbers missing on Aoraki Mt Cook are presumed dead, after their search efforts were hindered by inclement weather. The climbers, experienced mountaineers, vanished while attempting a challenging route on the mountain.
Three climbers are feared dead on Aoraki Mt Cook, New Zealand's highest mountain, after going missing days ago. Authorities have identified the missing individuals as Americans Kurt Blair, aged 56, and Carlos Romero, aged 50, alongside an unnamed Canadian national. They were reported missing on Monday when they did not return for their scheduled flight from the mountain.Inspector Vicki Walker, Aoraki Area Commander, announced on Friday that police believe the climbers may have fallen while attempting to traverse a ridge. The search for the trio has faced significant delays due to adverse weather conditions, and authorities have decided to scale down operations. Rescue efforts have included helicopter and drone searches, which revealed footprints and climbing gear, such as clothing and energy gels, believed to belong to the climbers.The climb via the Zurbriggen Ridge is classified as a Grade Four ascent, which necessitates both sound judgment and experienced mountaineering skills as per New Zealand alpine organization Climb NZ. Both Blair and Romero were noted to be skilled climbers.A tribute from the Silverton Avalanche School in Colorado, where Blair was well-known, praised him as a treasured member of the San Juan Mountains community, underlining his calm demeanor and positive spirit. A colleague described him as an accomplished climber who had explored peaks worldwide. Romero, affectionately known as Kique, was remembered by California-based SWS Mountain Guides as a respected guide, educator, and mentor, celebrated for his climbing skills and enthusiasm for the sport. Romero, originally from Venezuela, had a background as a researcher at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in California. Out of respect for the grieving family, police have not disclosed the name of the Canadian climber. Aoraki Mt Cook rises to 3,724 meters (12,217 feet) in New Zealand's South Island and is a coveted challenge for climbers seeking to test their skills.
