Three mountain climbers from the US and Canada are missing after they failed to return from a planned ascent of New Zealand's highest peak, Aoraki/Mt Cook.
The Americans — Kurt Blair, 56, from Colorado and Carlos Romero, 50, of California — are certified alpine guides, according to the website of the American Mountain Guides Association.
A statement by New Zealand's police did not name the Canadian climber, citing the need to notify his family.
The men flew to a hut part-way up the mountain on Saturday to begin their ascent and were reported missing on Monday when they did not arrive to meet their prearranged transport after the climb.
Searchers hours later found several climbing-related items believed to belong to the men, but no sign of them, police said.
Search efforts did not resume on Tuesday due to deteriorating weather conditions on Aoraki, also known as Mount Cook, with heavy rain and snow forecast.
MetService has forecast rain and snow to 3,200 metres in the national park on Tuesday.
Operations were unlikely to begin again until conditions improved, expected to be on Thursday, police said.
"Police have been working with the US and Canadian embassies to inform and support the families of the three men.
"Further information regarding the third man will not be provided until we can be sure that all necessary family notifications have been carried out."
In a post on Facebook, Silverton Avalanche School, based in Colorado, said it "received notification from NZ authorities that the climbers appear to have taken a fatal fall from high upon the peak".
"Gear and equipment found from the party has helped SAR piece together the tragedy although remote, technical and heavily glaciated terrain coupled with deteriorating weather has prevented a recovery of the climbers," it said.
"Kurt was a beloved fixture of the San Juan mountains who comes from a proud lineage of mountain adventurers.
"… His calm demeanour and positive presence ran counter to the rough edges and sharp tongues so often exemplified by the hard scrabble ranks of mountain guides.
"He was the nicest guy you'd ever share a rope or trail or skin track with, and his humility, competence and polite nature made him a client and student favourite," it wrote.
Good conditions reported, peak reserved for experts
Aoraki is 3,724 meters high and is part of the Southern Alps, the scenic and icy mountain range that runs the length of New Zealand's South Island.
The peak is popular among experienced climbers — its terrain technically difficult due to crevasses, avalanche risk, changeable weather and glacier movement.
Veteran mountaineer Chris Prudden said storms coming off the Tasman Sea could create dangers.
"That weather moves up and can hang on the main divide area and provide a lot of hazard, it's not unusual for people to be caught out," he said.
But, the New Zealand Mountain Safety Council (MSC) said good conditions were reported on Aoraki/Mt Cook before the three climbers went missing, in a statement to Radio New Zealand.
"Generally speaking, summit attempts on Aoraki/Mt Cook begin during the middle of the night to make the most of the overnight freeze, for easier and safer climbing," MSC chief executive Mike Daisley said.
The NZ Avalanche Advisory also reported a low avalanche danger rating on Sunday, stating "time your day to make the most of good travel conditions early in the morning, before the heat of the day kicks in".
Mr Daisley acknowledged the challenges Aoraki/Mount Cook posed, and said it was reserved for advanced mountaineers.
"Climbing on the Main Divide and New Zealand's 3,000m peaks is a serious undertaking, with common hazards including avalanches, glacier crossings, rock falls, icy surface conditions and dynamic weather," he said.
More than 240 deaths have been recorded on the mountain and in the surrounding national park since the start of the 20th century.
Radio New Zealand/AP
