KEY POINTS:
Two Japanese climbers stranded on Mt Cook should be able to cope if they can stay dry and sheltered, but the state of their health and supplies are the unknown factors, say police.
The pair were due back at the Mt Cook Village on Saturday. Searchers in a helicopter yesterday spotted a man they believe to be one of the climbers by a tent near the mountain's summit ridge at 3700m above sea level.
High winds and poor visibility meant rescuers could not reach the men, believed to be aged in their 40s, and they will be looking for a break in the "shocking" weather to try again today.
It is thought the second climber may have been still inside the tent when searchers passed by yesterday.
"You can make all those presumptions, but at this stage we don't actually know," said police constable Stu Mori.
"He may be ill, he may be injured. He may not have had enough time to get his boots on and get out [of the tent]."
The winds meant the searchers could not throw bags of supplies to them. Mr Mori said one of the climbers was known to be experienced - having climbed Mt Cook and other mountains around the world. It is not known if the second climber is experienced.
Mt Cook guide Trev Streat said the pair could be reasonably comfortable because it had not been excessively cold over the last few days, but it would depend on how they were equipped.
"If they have got dry sleeping bags and good shelter they should be able to sit out a few days in a storm."
Rather than staying in the tent - exposed to the high winds - "a snow cave or hiding out in a crevasse is probably a better idea".
Mr Mori said the extent of the pair's supplies was unclear.
"We don't know what food and rations [they have], we don't know the medical conditions. It's an unknown factor at this stage."
It was presumed the pair had been on the mountain since Friday.
"Every trip is different. But all climbers are prepared to spend a night out, or two or three nights out, because ... that is the nature of the beast with our changeable weather."
Snow was expected in the search area overnight, Mr Mori said and everyone had "battened down the hatches" until today.
