Mountaineer and son of Sir Edmund Hillary, Peter Hillary discusses safety improvements on the mountain.
Video / Herald Now
The tragedy comes during a deadly season, with four other climbers killed or missing.
Almost $150,000 has been raised for the family of late mountain guide Thomas Vialletet, who died on Aoraki/Mt Cook in November.
A Givealittle page was set up by friends to support Vialletet’spartner Danielle and their two young children.
Donations have come from New Zealand and around the globe, reflecting the impact the acclaimed climber had while guiding local and international clients.
Wanaka-based mountain guide Thomas Vialletet died when he fell from Aoraki / Mt Cook in November.
The page says he was a devoted father, and touched the lives of countless clients and friends.
“So deeply saddened to hear of the loss of a wonderful and talented man. We will never forget our incredible experience when he guided us in La Grave many years ago. He will be greatly missed,” one private contributor wrote.
The well-respected guide and co-owner of Wānaka-based Summit Explorers, and his American client Kellam Conover, died after falling from the western slopes of Aoraki/Mt Cook while attempting a grand traverse of New Zealand’s highest mountain.
New Zealand’s tallest peak, Aoraki / Mount Cook, is reflected in Lake Pukaki. Photo / George Heard
Only weeks before the accident, Vialletet had guided climbers across Aoraki’s demanding East Ridge in a 25-hour round trip from Plateau Hut.
In a social media post, Vialletet believed it had been a decade since the route was last guided.
He grew up in the French Alps, where he climbed and skied, later becoming part of the French National Young Alpinism Team between 2009 and 2012.
Vialletet later came to New Zealand and fell in love with its mountains and wilderness, becoming a climbing instructor before qualifying as a full IFMGA Mountain and ski guide.
Since the accident, two further alpinists have died climbing in New Zealand’s mountains.
Another pair of climbers remain missing on Aoraki/Mt Cook. Earlier this week, searchers in helicopters scanned the route the climbers took to the summit, but nothing has been found.
The search is continuing.
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