Aoraki Mt. Cook Avalanche Claims Two Climbers, Search Called Off
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A search operation for two climbers missing on Aoraki Mt. Cook has been suspended, with authorities stating they do not believe the men survived a significant ice avalanche. The climbers, who began their ascent on December 12, were reported overdue after failing to return to Plateau Hut on Monday morning.
Disappearance and Initial Search Efforts
The pair departed from the tasman Valley car park on Friday, December 12, intending to reach Plateau Hut as a base for their climb. The following evening, they set out to summit Aoraki Mt. Cook via the Linda Glacier route. When they did not return to the hut as scheduled, the Department of Conservation (DOC) initiated a search.
According to a senior official, search and rescue teams conducted operations for three days, hampered by challenging weather conditions. During the search, teams discovered “some items of climbing equipment.”
Avalanche Confirmed, Recovery efforts Hampered
A detailed investigation of the area revealed the grim reality of the situation.”A visual investigation of this area has led to the determination that the overdue climbers have been caught in a significant ice avalanche within a known icefall hazard zone on the upper Linda Glacier,” stated Aoraki Area Commander Inspector Vicki Walker.
The scale of the avalanche has led authorities to conclude that survival is unlikely. “Because of the scale and volume of material involved, we don’t believe this avalanche was survivable,” Walker added.
Unstable Conditions Prevent Recovery
The Linda Glacier remains exceptionally unstable, preventing ground crews from accessing the site for a potential recovery operation. A DOC Aoraki Mount Cook operations manager emphasized the inherent dangers of the environment, stating, “The Linda Glacier is an unforgiving alpine environment.Conditions can change rapidly, and even highly experienced climbers are exposed to unexpected hazards including icefall, crevasses, avalanches, and extreme weather.”
Aerial reconnaissance has been unable to locate the climbers’ bodies. Though, police indicated they would reassess the possibility of a recovery operation if conditions improve with warmer weather.
A Second Tragedy on Aoraki Mt. Cook
This incident marks the second climbing fatality on Aoraki Mt. Cook in recent weeks. Just three weeks prior, a New Zealand guide and a US client died after falling from a ridge near the summit.
“Sadly, for now, we can’t reach them and they lie in rest on the maunga, and our sympathy is with their whānau,” Walker concluded, referencing the Māori concept of the mountain as a sacred entity.
Why: Two climbers went missing while attempting to summit Aoraki Mt. Cook via the Linda Glacier route.
Who: The climbers were reported overdue on Monday morning after not returning to Plateau Hut. Their identities have not been released.
What: The climbers were caught in a significant ice avalanche on the upper Linda Glacier. Authorities believe they did not survive.
How did it end?: After a three-day search hampered by weather, authorities determined the avalanche was unsurvivable and suspended the search. Recovery efforts are currently unachievable due to unstable glacial conditions.
