Two Americans and a Canadian, who went missing after attempting to summit New Zealand’s highest mountain, are presumed dead, local authorities confirmed on Friday, December 5, as they ended the search efforts.
Kurt Blair, 56, Carlos Romero, 50, and the unnamed Canadian national were reported overdue after their planned ascent of Mount Cook (Aoraki). Police had been searching for them since they failed to return as scheduled.
“We believe the men did not survive,” said Inspector Vicki Walker, Aoraki Area Commander, adding that the climbers likely perished in a fall.
The trio, who arrived in the area on November 30, were aiming to reach the peak of the 12,218-foot mountain via Zurbriggen Ridge. They were expected to board a flight out on Monday morning, but when they didn’t show, authorities were alerted.
Search efforts, including a helicopter and rescue teams, faced significant challenges due to poor weather conditions. Earlier in the week, authorities recovered several items believed to belong to the climbers, including a jacket and an ice axe, with more gear found on Friday. Police also discovered footprints where the climbers had started their descent below the ridge.
Blair and Romero were both certified guides in skiing, alpine climbing, and rock climbing, according to the American Mountain Guides Association (AMGA). Blair was based in Durango, Colorado, while Romero resided in Livermore, California.
