Three mountaineers from the United States and Canada were reported missing on Monday after failing to return from an attempt to summit Mount Cook, New Zealand’s highest mountain, according to local police. The search for the climbers faced severe weather conditions that hindered efforts.
The missing individuals include two Americans, Kurt Blair, 56, and Carlos Romero, 50, along with an unnamed Canadian. They did not arrive for a charter flight scheduled to take them back from the mountain on Monday morning, stated Vicki Walker, the local police department commander.
Search teams discovered several climbing-related items believed to belong to the missing climbers. However, the search had to be suspended due to the severe weather, with a potential resumption not expected until Thursday.
The three climbers had flown to a hut on Mount Cook, also known by its Māori name Aoraki, to begin their ascent on Saturday afternoon. The peak, which reaches approximately 12,000 feet, is a popular destination for mountain climbers in the Southern Alps of New Zealand’s South Island.
MetService, New Zealand’s national weather authority, did not issue any mountain weather hazard alerts for Mount Cook over the weekend, stated meteorologist David Miller. However, an alert for gale force winds was issued on Monday, followed by warnings for rain, winds, and wind chill on Tuesday, highlighting the risk of hypothermia. Severe gales were also forecast for Wednesday and Thursday.
The American Mountain Guides Association, a nonprofit organization representing mountain guides, confirmed that the two American climbers were certified guides in skiing, alpine climbing, and rock climbing.