NZ climber's body may never be recovered

It is feared the body of a New Zealand woman who went missing on a remote Alaskan mountain may never be recovered.

Karen McNeill and her American climbing partner Sue Nott went missing on Mt Foraker in late May.

Search spokeswoman Kris Fister says a helicopter has been on standby since June 15 to search for the bodies but bad weather has prevented it taking off.

Ms Fister says rescuers will take advantage of clear weather to scour the summit when they can and will continue to search during the course of other duties. She says it may well be that the two women are with the mountains forever.

- NEWSTALK ZB