WELLINGTON, New Zealand — A Coloradan is among three mountain climbers from the U.S. and Canada missing after they failed to return from a planned ascent of New Zealand’s highest peak, Aoraki, authorities said Tuesday.
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 partway 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.
