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2 American & 1 Canadian Climber Missing on NZ's Mount Cook Presumed Dead

2024-12-06

Two American and one Canadian climber are feared to have perished while ascending New Zealand's Mount Cook, also known as Aoraki. This tragic event has captured the attention of the climbing community and the public alike. The search efforts, which faced a week of unfavorable weather, continued on Friday, Dec. 6, as Aoraki Area Commander Inspector Vicki Walker announced. During this search, a top and energy gels were located by the helicopter crew, following the discovery of a jacket and an ice axe earlier in the week. While it cannot be confirmed that these objects belong to the missing climbers, there is a strong belief that they do. This incident highlights the risks and challenges faced by climbers in their pursuit of the highest peaks.

Climber's Journey and Disappearance

Kurt Blair, 56, and Carlos Romero, 50, from the United States, along with a Canadian national, went missing after failing to arrive for their departure flight on Monday, Dec. 2 at 8.30 a.m. local time. They had flown into Plateau Hut at 3.30 p.m. on Nov. 30 to climb Aoraki via Zurbriggen Ridge. The search operations have been extensive, with a two-person drone team deployed by helicopter to a safe area. The footage from the drone revealed evidence of where the climbers had begun to traverse the slopes beneath Zurbriggen Ridge. This included footprints and other items that had been discovered. After careful review of the number of days the climbers have been missing, along with the lack of communication and the retrieved items, it is believed that the men did not survive. It is a heartbreaking situation that has left their families and the climbing community in shock.

Search and Evidence

The search efforts have been ongoing, with each day bringing new hope and disappointment. The discovery of the jacket and ice axe earlier in the week provided some clues, and the subsequent location of the top and energy gels added to the evidence. The drone footage has been crucial in providing a visual understanding of where the climbers were last seen. The footprints and other items found on the slopes beneath Zurbriggen Ridge have further strengthened the belief that the climbers took a fall. This is a difficult time for the search and rescue teams, who have given their all to find the missing climbers.

Family and Search Process

The police have been in close contact with the families of the missing climbers, and a process to formally suspend the active search has begun. However, the search team remains poised to reactivate the search if they receive fresh information or credible reports of sightings. This is a delicate balance between providing closure to the families and continuing the search for any possible signs of life. The feasibility for a recovery operation will now be carefully considered and managed. The police have now formally advised the Coroner of their belief that the climbers did not survive a fall. This is a difficult decision that has been made with the best interests of the families in mind.

Conclusion

The search for the missing climbers on New Zealand's Mount Cook has been a challenging and heartbreaking ordeal. The efforts of the search and rescue teams have been commendable, and they have given their all to find the missing climbers. While the evidence suggests that the climbers did not survive, the hope remains that there may be some form of closure for the families. This incident serves as a reminder of the risks and dangers faced by climbers and the importance of safety in the mountains.