Authorities have called off the search for American mountaineers Kurt Blair, Carlos Romero, and an unidentified Canadian climber, missing on Aoraki/Mt. Cook since earlier this week. Police announced the decision Friday, citing hazardous weather conditions and a grim assessment of the climbers’ survival chances.
The group was last heard from before they were due to board a Monday morning flight, prompting immediate concerns when they failed to appear. An initial helicopter search on Monday uncovered scattered climbing gear, an ice axe, and energy gels near the Zurbriggen Ridge, a notorious route on the mountain. However, worsening weather forced search teams to retreat just hours after launching their efforts.
By midweek, hopes had faded. Rescue teams, equipped with drones, spotted footprints in the snow during a break in the weather but found no sign of the climbers themselves. Police now believe the group fell to their deaths in the perilous terrain.
“After reviewing the number of days the climbers have been missing, the lack of communication, and the evidence retrieved, we do not believe the men have survived,” said Police Area Commander Inspector Vicki Walker. “We believe they have taken a fall.”
Families of the climbers have been informed, and authorities say they will resume the search if new evidence emerges.
Standing 3,724 meters (12,218 feet) tall, Aoraki/Mt. Cook is New Zealand’s highest peak and a magnet for experienced climbers worldwide. The mountain is part of the Southern Alps, a range stretching the length of the South Island, famed for its rugged beauty and extreme challenges. Aoraki’s icy ridges and avalanche-prone slopes have claimed more than 240 lives since the early 1900s, making it one of the most dangerous climbing destinations in the Southern Hemisphere.
Zurbriggen Ridge, where the trio is believed to have met their fate, is known for its technical demands and unpredictable weather. While it draws seasoned climbers, the risks are ever-present. Falls and avalanches are a grim reality for those who venture into these heights.
While the search for Blair, Romero, and their companion may have ended, their story joins the long, sobering history of Aoraki—a testament to both the allure and danger of New Zealand’s highest summit.
