New Zealand’s highest and deadliest peak remains an “irresistible lure” for climbers despite the risks, says Sir Edmund Hillary’s son.
Guide Thomas Vialletet and his client Kellam Conover died while trying to ascend Aoraki Mt Cook on Monday night.
They were part of a group of four climbers attempting to summit Aoraki Mt Cook when the pair, connected by a rope, fell close to the summit.
Sir Ed’s son, Peter Hillary, said that despite the risk, it was something about the sparkling snow on the horizon that continued to draw people to the mountain.
“We all know people who perhaps became a ballet dancer or a software engineer,” Hillary said.
“It was something about that activity that really drew them.
“You think of a mountain like Aoraki Mount Cook, it is just there, it’s the biggest mountain we have.
“It’s a huge undertaking, and for some of us, it’s an irresistible lure.”
Hillary said it was important that people have the “freedom to get out there and challenge ourselves in ways that [they] want to”.
“A particular person wants to have that experience for themselves, and it’s an incredible experience,” he said.
“You know, to be up on a great mountain like that, looking out at dawn, out over the surrounding terrain, huge drops all around, and thinking you have to be the master of your own destiny.
“And I think that’s actually quite an important part of the mountaineering experience, but also the freedom for each of us to get out there and challenge ourselves in ways that we want to.”
And it was climbing that brought Vialletet and Conover together when they met climbing in New Zealand two years ago.
Pam Conover told Stuff her son never wanted to climb the highest peaks – just the ones that appealed to him.
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.
“Through his guidance, kindness and professionalism, Thomas profoundly touched the lives of countless clients, mentees and friends.
“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.”
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”.
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.
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.
Last year, American climbers Kurt Blair, 56, and 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.
Police said at the time that due to the length of time since the men were reported missing, lack of communications, items received and reconnaissance, they did not believe the men had survived.
It is believed they had fallen.
Search teams were hampered by treacherous conditions, at times it was too windy for helicopters and too dangerous to put search teams in the area.
Laura Lisowski, a friend of Blair’s, told the Herald he was an “absolutely magical human being”.
“I’ve climbed many places with many people around the world and never has a guide (or person in general, frankly) made such an impression on me as Kurt,” she said.
Lisowski described Blair as an “extremely dynamic individual” who was full of wisdom and would never miss a “witty remark”.