Grave fears for climber missing in Mt Aspiring National Park

Simon Bell is believed to have been climbing Mt Earnslaw.

Grave fears for climber trying to conquer 100 peaks

A mountaineer aiming to conquer a record 100 New Zealand peaks - and who once saved a companion's life in a daring rescue - is missing in Mt Aspiring National Park.

Simon Bell of Wanaka has not been seen for three weeks after telling friends he planned to climb Mt Earnslaw, a 2837m-high mountain northwest of Queenstown. Police hold grave concerns for him.

A large-scale search was started yesterday after his former partner reported him missing.

Police found the 33-year-old's car at Muddy Creek, near the start of the Mt Earnslaw track, and used a helicopter to check on huts on the mountain.

Acting Senor Sergeant Steve Watt said Mr Bell had appropriate clothing and climbing equipment, including a mobile phone, tracker and personal locator beacon.

Despite his being well prepared, there were concerns for his safety because he'd been missing for so long and had not activated his beacon.

In 2013, Mr Bell made headlines when he and companion Vaughan Snowdon saved the life of fellow climber Heather Rhodes. The trio were on the Cameron Glacier in the Arrowsmith Range when Ms Rhodes, a professional outdoor instructor, fell 300m, taking the group's climbing ropes with her.

It took the men an hour to climb down a steep icy slope to her. She had head injuries and broken legs.

They activated a personal locator beacon, then set up a platform and tent before using their own body heat to keep Ms Rhodes warm.

"My companions undoubtedly saved my life," she said later. "I'm immensely grateful. I can recommend if you're choosing a climbing partner, you choose someone who can save your life."

Mr Bell has been a member of the New Zealand Alpine Club's Wellington branch and the Tararua Tramping Club and was on a mission to be the first to climb the country's 100 "great peaks". Mt Earnslaw was about No 60 on his list.

Tararua Tramping Club president Paul Maxim, of Wellington, said the club was meeting last night to discuss Mr Bell's disappearance and offer a few words for him.

"Simon is a very experienced mountaineer and has, in the last year or so, set the ambitious target of climbing a list of 100 peaks in New Zealand. Nobody's done it."

Mr Maxim said Mr Bell tended to carry out climbs with others, but there were some peaks he might consider to be easier and would therefore choose to climb alone.

"I saw Simon before Christmas. I just wished him luck on his climbs. He's a nice guy and a very calm, collected chap."

Mr Maxim, who has climbed Mt Earnslaw, described it as a "reasonably straightforward" climb in the right conditions and would normally take a couple of days.

It was "very unusual" that a tramper would be out three weeks at a time without reporting in, he said.

Mr Bell was a member of the club's alpine instruction committee and helped with the annual alpine instruction course.

Neither Mr Bell's family nor his former partner wanted to comment last night.
- additional reporting: Otago Daily Times