New Zealand police stated on Friday that three climbers—two from the United States and one from Canada—are believed to have died in a fall after being missing for five days on Aoraki/Mount Cook, New Zealand’s highest peak. Although their bodies have not been found, the search has been called off based on footprints discovered in the snow during aerial reconnaissance, as well as items believed to belong to them that were recovered from the mountainside this week.
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02-08, 2025Police Regional Commander Inspector Vicki Walker told reporters that the two American climbers were 56-year-old Kurt Blair from Colorado and 50-year-old Carlos Romero from California, both certified alpine guides by the American Mountain Guides Association. Blair and Romero held professional certifications in skiing, alpine climbing, and rock climbing. Blair resided in Durango, Colorado, while Romero lived in Livermore, California. At the request of their family, New Zealand authorities have not released the name of the Canadian climber.
The three climbers were flown to a mountain hut last Saturday to begin their climb. They were scheduled to meet a pre-arranged transport on Monday after completing their climb, but failed to arrive, and were subsequently reported missing. Police stated that search and rescue personnel discovered some climbing gear believed to belong to them hours later, but found no trace of the climbers. The search was suspended for three days due to poor weather in the area. On Friday, drone operators discovered footprints in the snow, along with more items that authorities believe belonged to them.
The items discovered by helicopter included clothing, ice axes, and energy gels, which have been recovered. “After assessing the number of days the climbers have been missing, the lack of communication, the items we have recovered, and the reconnaissance today, we believe the climbers are no longer alive,” Inspector Walker said. “We believe they have fallen.” Inspector Walker added that the search would resume if more evidence came to light, but the climbers' deaths have been referred to the coroner.
Aoraki/Mount Cook, also known as Mount Cook, is 3,724 meters high and part of the Southern Alps, a scenic and snow-covered mountain range on New Zealand's South Island. The namesake settlement at the base of the mountain is a popular destination for domestic and international tourists. The peak is popular with experienced climbers. The terrain is technically challenging due to crevasses, avalanche risk, variable weather, and glacial movement. Since the early 20th century, the peak and its surrounding national park have recorded more than 240 deaths.
