New Zealand Police Presume 3 Missing Climbers from the US and Canada are Deceased
The climbers traveled to the mountain on Saturday and were reported missing by Monday.
On December 6, authorities suspended the search for three mountain climbers—two from the United States and one from Canada—who had been missing for five days on New Zealand’s Aoraki Mountain, the nation’s highest peak, stating that it is likely they perished in a fall.
The remains of the three men—Kurt Blair, 56, from Colorado, Carlos Romero, 50, from California, and a Canadian man whose identity has not been disclosed at his family’s request—have yet to be located.
Both Blair and Romero were certified guides with expertise in skiing, alpine climbing, and rock climbing, according to the American Mountain Guides Association, a nonprofit organization that supports mountain professionals.
The families of the missing climbers have been notified about the decision to cease the search, stated Aoraki Area Commander Inspector Vicki Walker.
The three men had flown to a hut located partway up the mountain on Saturday to begin their climb. They were reported missing on Monday after failing to return for a scheduled charter flight.
Hours later, searchers located climbing gear believed to belong to the climbers, but no trace of them was found, according to police.
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The search halted for three days due to hazardous weather conditions. On Friday, drone operators noticed footprints in the snow and a helicopter crew found additional climbing equipment on the mountain, Walker reported.
“The drone footage shows clear evidence of where the climbers began to traverse beneath Zurbriggen Ridge,” Walker noted. “Given the duration of their disappearance, lack of communication, the items recovered, and the reconnaissance conducted today, we do not believe the men have survived. Our assessment is that they have experienced a fall.”
Search and rescue agencies are prepared to “reactivate” their efforts should new evidence or credible sighting reports arise, particularly from the climbing community, Walker mentioned.
Police have officially informed a coroner of their belief that the climbers did not survive, Walker added in her statement.
Aoraki, also known as Mount Cook, is New Zealand’s highest peak, standing at roughly 12,000 feet above sea level, and is frequented by seasoned climbers.
As part of the Southern Alps, the mountain’s terrain poses significant challenges due to crevasses, risks of avalanches, unpredictable weather, and glacier activity.
Since the early 1900s, over 240 fatalities have been documented on the mountain and within the adjacent national park.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
