Three climbers are missing after failing to return from a planned ascent of New Zealand’s highest peak, authorities say.
Two Americans and a Canadian flew to a hut part way up the Aoraki mountain on Saturday to begin their climb, but failed to meet their prearranged transport on Monday after their trek.
Both Kurt Blair, 56, from Colorado, and Carlos Romero, 50, from California, are certified alpine guides, according to the website of the American Mountain Guides Association.
New Zealand police did not name the Canadian climber, saying his family needed to be notified.
Hours after they were reported missing on Monday, searchers found climbing-related items that belonged to the men but no sign of them.
Deteriorating weather conditions on the mountain – with heavy rain and snow forecast – meant that search efforts did not resume on Tuesday and are unlikely to restart until Thursday.
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The Aoraki mountain is 12,218ft (3,724m) high and is part of the Southern Alps, which runs the length of New Zealand’s South Island.
The peak is popular with experienced climbers, who take on its difficult terrain which includes crevasses, risk of avalanches, changeable weather and glacier movement.
More than 240 deaths have been recorded on the mountain and in the surrounding national park since the start of the 20th century.
