In brief
Climbers attempted to summit Mount Cook but didn't return for their scheduled flight, leading to a search operation.
Three climbers from the U.S. and Canada are unaccounted for after trying to scale Mount Cook, New Zealand's tallest peak, on Monday. The climbers, Kurt Blair, 56, and Carlos Romero, 50, both experienced mountaineers, were attempting their ascent when they failed to return for a scheduled flight. Police confirmed they have found equipment believed to belong to the climbers but had to pause search efforts due to severe weather conditions. The trio began their journey from a hut on the mountain last Saturday. While no weather advisories were in effect over the weekend, warnings for gale-force winds and hypothermia risks emerged Monday and Tuesday. With the forecast predicting treacherous conditions to continue into the week, local authorities are preparing for a potential search resumption on Thursday. The American Mountain Guides Association identified the two Americans as certified mountain guides specializing in skiing and climbing.
