Three climbers have been missing from Aoraki Mt Cook since Monday, December 2. Photo / George Heard
The search for three men missing on Aoraki/Mt Cook remains on hold for the third day amid strong winds making it impossible to fly over the mountain range.
The three climbers are believed to have suffered a fatal fall.
The missing men are Kurt Blair, 56, Carlos Romero, 50, both from the United States, and a Canadian national.
Police today revealed the weather had delayed the search.
According to the MetService website, winds on Aoraki/Mt Cook reached a peak of 54km/h this morning.
MetService meteorologist Mmathapelo Makgabutlane said strong winds are expected today and into Friday.
“We’re still expecting very strong winds and still that possibility of turbulence which makes any flight operations quite hazardous,” she said.
Makgabutlane said winds could ease slightly about midday tomorrow, however, it was difficult to predict.
“Further assessment of the wind conditions in Mt Cook have determined it is not safe to fly in the area today,” police said in a statement.
Police will try again tomorrow, weather permitting.
The trio was reported overdue from their planned ascent of Aoraki/Mt Cook yesterday morning.
They flew into Plateau Hut at 3.30pm on Saturday, planning to summit Aoraki/Mt Cook via Zurbriggen Ridge.
Aoraki area commander Inspector Vicki Walker said they did not make their flight out planned for 8.30am on Monday and were reported overdue.
In a post online, Silverton Avalanche School in the US said it had been notified the climbers had succumbed to a fatal fall.
“We received notification from NZ authorities that the climbers appear to have taken a fatal fall from high upon the peak,” it said.
“Gear and equipment found from the party has helped SAR [search and rescue] piece together the tragedy, although remote, technical and heavily glaciated terrain coupled with deteriorating weather has prevented a recovery of the climbers.”
The school paid tribute to Blair online, remembering him as the “nicest guy” who came from a “proud lineage of mountain adventurers”.
Romero was a qualified international mountain guide with specialist skills in skiing, alpine and rock guiding, according to the American Mountain Guides Association.
A search was initiated on Monday involving the Department of Conservation (DoC) Search and Rescue team, local helicopter company The Helicopter Line and police.
“During the search, several climbing-related items were located which are believed to belong to the three men,” Walker said.
“Police have been working with the US and Canadian embassies to inform and support the families of the three men.”
Further information regarding the third man will not be provided until police can be sure that all necessary family notifications have been carried out.
Katie Oliver is a Christchurch-based multimedia journalist and breaking news reporter.
The school is asking people not to come to or phone the school.