WELLINGTON, New Zealand — New Zealand authorities have “grave concerns” for a Colorado mountain guide and two other North American climbers who are missing after a planned ascent of the country’s highest peak, Aoraki, as efforts to find them stalled for a third day amid bad weather.
Strong winds meant an aerial search for the two Americans and a Canadian could not resume as anticipated on Thursday, Police Area Commander Inspector Vicki Walker said in a statement.
The Americans — Kurt Blair, 56, from Durango and Carlos Romero, 50, of California — are certified alpine guides, according to the website of the nonprofit American Mountain Guides Association. New Zealand authorities have not named the Canadian climber at the request of his family.
The Silverton Avalanche School posted on social media this week that Blair, a fixture of Colorado’s San Juan Mountains, is “presumed deceased.”
“For those of us who have logged significant time in the backcountry with Kurt, the loss of such a wise and steady partner is devastating,” the author of the school’s Facebook post wrote. “Blair leaves behind a loving family, two amazing sons and a mountain community that stretches along the entire length of the 550 corridor and beyond.”
The three men flew to a hut partway up the mountain on Saturday to begin their ascent and were reported missing on Monday when they did not arrive to meet their prearranged transport after the climb. Searchers hours later found several climbing-related items believed to belong to the men, but no sign of them, police said.
The search for the men stalled on Tuesday and Wednesday due to deteriorating weather conditions on Aoraki, also known as Mount Cook, with heavy rain and snow forecast. Walker earlier hoped efforts would resume Thursday but said conditions on the day were unsafe.
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Colorado mountain guide among 3 North American climbers missing on New Zealand’s highest peak
Aoraki is 12,218 feet high and is part of the Southern Alps, the scenic and icy mountain range that runs the length of New Zealand’s South Island. A settlement of the same name at its base is a destination for domestic and foreign tourists.
The peak is popular among experienced climbers. Its terrain is technically difficult due to crevasses, avalanche risk, changeable weather and glacier movement.
More than 240 deaths have been recorded on the mountain and in the surrounding national park since the start of the 20th century.