Authorities in New Zealand are currently searching for three climbers from the U.S. and Canada who went missing during an ascent of Aoraki, the country’s highest mountain.
Kurt Blair, 56, from Colorado and Carlos Romero, 50, of California are among the missing climbers. Both Americans are trained alpine guides recognized by the American Mountain Guides Association. The identity of the Canadian climber remains undisclosed as officials work to notify his family.
The trio began their journey on Saturday by flying to a mountaineering hut situated partway up Aoraki, intending to tackle the peak. Concerns arose on Monday when they failed to return to their scheduled transportation point post-climb.
Search parties quickly mobilized and discovered several items related to mountaineering that likely belonged to the climbers. However, no other signs of the climbers have been found.
Changing weather conditions have hampered ongoing search efforts. Heavy rain and snow in the Aoraki region have forced authorities to pause the search, with expectations to resume operations once weather conditions improve, likely on Thursday.
Standing at 3,724 meters, Aoraki, also known as Mount Cook, resides within New Zealand’s Southern Alps, a renowned range admired for its challenging glacial terrain and stunning vistas. The mountain’s treacherous nature is well-documented, with over 240 fatalities recorded since the early 20th century.
The disappearance of these climbers highlights the inherent risks associated with mountaineering activities on Aoraki and similar peaks. While the weather hinders current search efforts, authorities remain poised to resume as soon as conditions permit.
Source: Apnews
Source: Apnews
