Aoraki, who lives in the San Francisco Bay Area, is one of three mountain climbers who have been reported missing on New Zealand’s highest peak.
Living in Livermore, Alameda County, Carlos “Kique” Romero works as a guide for SWS Mountain Guides, which is headquartered in Mount Shasta, Siskiyou County.
On Monday, Romero, 50, Kurt Blair, 56, of Colorado, and a Canadian guy did not return from their ascent of Aoraki, also called Mount Cook.
Romero is a native of M rida, Venezuela, according to his biography on the SWS Mountain Guides website. He completed his graduate work at UC Berkeley. Romero’s bio states that he worked as a program manager at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory for 15 years before to joining SWS.
Romero is a certified rock guide, alpine guide, and ski guide who has led several climbing expeditions to the Andes.
“We regret to inform you that Carlos (Kique) Romero is one of the three climbers who have been reported missing on Mount Cook (Aoraki) in New Zealand,” SWS Mountain Guides wrote on Facebook on Tuesday. As we wait for more information, our thoughts and prayers are with their loved ones, friends, and the climbing community. We’re still holding Kique in our hearts and hoping for clarity.”
We regret to inform you that Carlos (Kique) Romero is one of three climbers who have been reported missing on Mount…
Timothy Keating, the CEO of the organization, told CBS News Bay Area, “He was so gracious and sharing with younger guides, and sharing with all the guides to make them better guides, and to make them safer guides.”
“Never second guess any type of accident like this,” Keating stated in response to a question concerning the hike. You can’t question someone else’s choices or actions because you are never in the same position twice.”
New Zealand Police stated in a news release on Tuesday that it had “grave concerns for the three men” and that it intended to begin its search for them after the weather cleared. As weather conditions worsened, search operations were halted.
“However at this stage it remains unlikely searching will be able to continue before [Wednessay],” the announcement stated.
According to police, the Canadian national’s identity was withheld due to family wishes.
Inspector Vicki Walker, the Aoraki Area Commander, commended the searchers’ efforts thus far and said the mountain’s topography was challenging to traverse. Although there was no evidence of the men, searchers on Monday discovered a number of climbing-related equipment thought to be theirs.
According to a social media post from Colorado’s Silverton Avalanche School, police in New Zealand stated that the climbers “appear to have taken a fatal fall from high upon the peak.”
We regret to inform you that Kurt Blair, a friend and coworker, vanished and is thought to be dead.
Popular among experienced climbers, Aoraki is 3,724 meters (12,218 ft) high and part of the Southern Alps on the South Island of New Zealand. Because to crevasses, avalanche risk, unpredictable weather, and glacier movement, the climbing conditions are challenging.
More than 240 fatalities have been reported on the mountain and in the nearby national park since the turn of the 20th century.
Reporting assistance was provided by Kara St. Cyr.
Note: Every piece of content is rigorously reviewed by our team of experienced writers and editors to ensure its accuracy. Our writers use credible sources and adhere to strict fact-checking protocols to verify all claims and data before publication. If an error is identified, we promptly correct it and strive for transparency in all updates, feel free to reach out to us via email. We appreciate your trust and support!
ChiefsFocus is a dedicated news writer with extensive experience in covering news across the United States. With a passion for storytelling and a commitment to journalistic integrity, ChiefsFocus delivers accurate and engaging content that informs and resonates with readers, keeping them updated on the latest developments nationwide.