The mother of an American lawyer who died alongside his guide attempting to ascend Aoraki Mt Cook is now trying to grasp the enormity of what took place from halfway across the world.
Guide Thomas Vialletet and his client Kellam Conover were part of a group of four climbers who encountered difficulties on the west side of the mountain late on Monday night.
The group was attempting to summit Aoraki Mt Cook when the pair, connected by a rope, fell close to the summit.
Speaking to Stuff, Kellam’s mother Pam Conover said her son was a compassionate soul – “the kindest possible man, who always took care of other people”.
His mother said he was “as close as you come to a modern Renaissance man”, able to read and write both Greek and Latin and converse in Italian, French and German.
Pam Conover told Stuff her son never wanted to climb the highest peaks – just the ones that appealed to him.
And it was climbing that led to him meeting Vialletet, when they climbed together in New Zealand two years ago.
On a Givealittle page set up to support the family of Vialletet, he was remembered as “a loving father, husband and integral part of the Wānaka and New Zealand guiding whānau”.
“Through his guidance, kindness and professionalism, Thomas profoundly touched the lives of countless clients, mentees and friends,” the page read.
“His expertise and passion for the mountains earned him deep respect across the entire guiding and climbing community. His absence will be hugely missed by all who knew him.”
The page read that following the tragic accident, the focus was now on “the family he cherished”.
“Thomas leaves behind his loving partner, Danielle, and their two beautiful young children, Layla and Ethan.
“Thomas was the core provider for his family and their financial security was dependent on the income generated by their small guiding business.
“His sudden loss means Danielle and the children face the immediate challenge of losing their main source of income, compounding their immense grief.”
Vialletet grew up in the French Alps, where he climbed, skied and explored mountains for more than two decades.
But his quest for mountain adventures brought him to New Zealand and he was a climbing instructor before becoming a full International Federation of Mountain Guides Associations (IFMGA) mountain and ski guide, his business profile says.
He was also part of the French National Young Alpinism Team between 2009-2012.
The bodies of Vialletet and his American client were recovered this morning from Aoraki Mt Cook.
Canterbury Aoraki area commander inspector Vicki Walker confirmed one of the men was from the United States and police continued to work with the US consulate.
Walker said the process will now begin to return the two men to their families.
“I want to thank all of those involved in the rescue and recovery, it has been a difficult period, most of all for the families of the two climbers and the wider community,” Walker said.
Earlier, Sergeant Kevin McErlain said a group was attempting to summit Aoraki Mt Cook when two of them, connected by a rope, fell close to the summit.
According to the New Zealand Mountain Guides Association (NZMGA), the pair were part of a team of four, including two guides and two clients, completing a grand traverse of Aoraki Mt Cook.
NZMGA president Anna Keeling said the guide, who is yet to be formally named by the New Zealand Police, was a respected and valued member of the NZMGA.
“They were an integral part of our guiding community,” Keeling said.
A formal investigation into the incident will also take place.
“There will be an opportunity for the NZMGA to understand and share more about what happened in this tragic accident,” Keeling said.
“NZMGA’s focus is now on those most affected, and our priority is supporting the family, including their partner and children, as well as our wider guiding community during this extremely difficult time.”
Known for its technically challenging faces, Aoraki Mt Cook has earned its title of New Zealand’s deadliest peak.
The mountain towers above its neighbours at 3724m and can be seen from the West Coast as far north as Greymouth.
It’s a mountaineering marvel that adventurers and tourists have flocked to for more than a century – and where 62 people have vanished without a trace.
In December 2024, American climbers Kurt Blair, 56, Carlos Romero, 50, and an unnamed Canadian national died on Aoraki Mt Cook.
The trio were reported overdue to return from their planned ascent of the mountain.
They flew into Plateau Hut at 3.30pm on Saturday November 30, planning to summit via Zurbriggen Ridge.
But they did not turn up for their 8.30am flight on Monday, December 2.
A search and rescue operation was launched for the group.
A helicopter then found further climbing-related items on the mountain, including a top and energy gels.
Drone footage showed where the climbers attempted to traverse the slopes below a ridge.
Their bodies were never recovered.
Jazlyn Whales is a multimedia journalist based in the Christchurch newsroom.