US, Canadian climbers missing on New Zealand’s Aoraki mountain believed dead: police

Three mountain climbers – two from the US and one from Canada – missing for five days on Aoraki, New Zealand’s tallest peak, are believed to have died in a fall, the authorities said on Friday.

The men’s bodies were not found. But based on footprints glimpsed in the snow during an aerial survey, and items believed to belong to them retrieved from the slopes this week, the search for them has ended, Police Area Commander Inspector Vicki Walker told reporters.

The Americans – Kurt Blair, 56, from Colorado and Carlos Romero, 50, of California – were certified alpine guides, according to the website of the non-profit American Mountain Guides Association. New Zealand authorities have not named the Canadian climber at the request of his family.

The men flew to a hut partway up the mountain on Saturday to begin their ascent and were reported missing on Monday when they did not arrive to meet their prearranged transport after the climb. Searchers hours later found several climbing-related items believed to belong to the men, but no sign of them, police said.

A search stalled for three days due to harsh weather in the area. On Friday, drone operators spotted footprints in the snow and more items that authorities believe belong the men.

“After reviewing the number of days the climbers have been missing, no communication, the items we have retrieved, and our reconnaissance today, we do not believe the men have survived,” Walker said. “We believe they have taken a fall.”