LONDON — A hunt has begun for three hikers who went missing while trying to reach the summit of New Zealand’s highest mountain, authorities said.
The three men — 56-year-old Kurt Blair and 50-year-old Carlos Romero. United StatesThey – along with a Canadian citizen – were visiting New Zealand and Aoraki was delayed from their planned climb to Mount Cook on Monday morning, Inspector Vicki Walker, Aoraki area commander, said in a statement.
“The men flew to Plateau Hut at 3.30pm on Saturday 30 November with the intention of summiting Aoraki Mt Cook via the Zurbriggen Ridge,” officials said. “The flight was supposed to take off at 08:30 on December 2nd, but they didn’t make it to the flight and they reported it later.”
Aoraki Mt Cook is 12,218 meters high and is located in the Southern Alps, a mountain range that runs the length of New Zealand’s South Island.
A search began on Monday and brought in teams from the Conservation Search and Rescue Team, the Helicopter Line and local police.
During the search, several items related to climbing were found and the authorities believe they belong to the three missing men.
A tourist takes a photo on a frozen lake at the foot of New Zealand’s highest peak, Aoraki, in Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park on August 17, 2020.
Mark Baker/AP
The search for the three hikers could not begin on Wednesday due to bad weather on the mountain, authorities confirmed.
“Weather conditions will prevent further search activity until Thursday this week, but police will continue to monitor and assess conditions,” officials said.
Police have been working with the US and Canadian embassies to inform and support the families of the three men.
“Further information about the third man will not be released until it is confirmed that all necessary notifications have been made to the families,” authorities continued.
An investigation into the missing men is currently underway.
