Fears grow for climbers missing on Alaskan peak

Fears for the life of one of New Zealand's top ice climbers, Karen McNeill, 37, increased yesterday when low clouds again prevented an aerial search for her and an American companion, missing on an Alaskan mountain.

Ms McNeill, a teacher who lives in Canada, and her fellow climber, Sue Nott, 36, from Colorado, went up the 5303m Mt Foraker four weeks ago, carrying 14 days of food for a planned 10-day climb.

The pair's food was due to run out on May 28 but no search was started until June 1.

"The likelihood of them being alive decreases with every day and at some time we will have to make a decision about how long the search will continue - but that point hasn't been reached yet," said National Parks Service spokeswoman Kris Fister.

She said last night that it was important to use a high-altitude Lama helicopter to search the area below the south summit of Mount Foraker, because of the sighting of tracks at 5000m, 300m below the top.

"This is the highest point on the peak where signs of the climbers have been seen," said Ms Fister.

Wendy McNeill, of Taupo, said although the family was finding the waiting difficult, it had faith in her sister's skill and ability as a mountaineer and knew she was not a risk-taker.

"We are hoping that she and Sue have hunkered down in a snow cave and are waiting for the opportunity to retreat."

"They are both incredibly tough athletes."

Nott and McNeill began their climb of the ascent route on May 14, after saying they expected to complete the route in 10 days.

Mt Foraker is 19km southwest of Mt McKinley, North America's highest peak.

- NZPA