Photo: Ed Freeman / Stone / Getty Images
Three mountain climbers, two from the United States and one from Canada are missing after failing to return from their planned ascent of New Zealand's tallest mountain, Aoraki, also known as Mount Cook. The missing climbers have been identified as Kurt Blair, 56, from Colorado, and Carlos Romero, 50, of California. The Canadian climber's name has not been released pending notification of his family. Both Blair and Romero are certified alpine guides, according to the American Mountain Guides Association.
The climbers arrived by plane at a hut partway up Aoraki on Saturday, with plans to ascend the 12,218-foot mountain. They were reported missing on Monday (December 2) when they failed to show up for their prearranged transportation. Search efforts have since uncovered several climbing-related items believed to belong to the trio, but the climbers themselves remain missing. The search was temporarily halted on Tuesday due to severe weather conditions on the mountain and is unlikely to resume until Thursday.
Kurt Blair, a beloved figure in Colorado's San Juan Mountains, became a certified mountain guide in 2022. He was known for his calm demeanor, positive presence, and extensive experience in mountain climbing, having summited famous peaks around the world, including Kilimanjaro, Mount Kenya, and Denali.
Aoraki, part of the Southern Alps mountain range that runs the length of New Zealand's South Island, is a popular destination for advanced climbers but has challenging terrain. Since the start of the 20th century, more than 240 deaths have been recorded on the mountain and in the national park that surrounds it.