Search for NZ climber in Alaska called off

Park rangers have called off their search of an Alaskan mountain for New Zealand climber Karen McNeill and her American climbing companion Sue Nott.

"We do not feel that at this point ... that they have survived," said Kris Fister, a spokeswoman for the US National Parks Service.

Cloud hindered the search for McNeill, 37, and Nott, 36, who set out to climb Mt Foraker, in Denali National Park, on May 14 carrying 14 days of food for a planned 10-day climb on a rarely used route.

The pair's food was due to run out on May 28 but a search was not started until June 1.

Wanaka climber Pat Deavoll, who had been friends with Ms McNeill for 18 years, said she believed the US authorities had done their best in what were "atrocious" weather conditions.

"It's incredibly sad of course, but in a way it's actually a relief for the family that it's over, and they can accept the fact that she's gone and move on."

Ms Fister said in an email that the two had been at 5000m without water for at least 10 days.

Medical experts say an uninjured man can last three days without water and a woman four days, but at altitude the dryness of the air means every breath has a dehydrating effect.

The climbers may have lost all their stove fuel for melting snow when Ms Nott's backpack fell from high on the mountain, with clothing, her sleeping bag, and the pair's mountain radio - their only means of calling for help.

The ripped backpack, radio and sleeping bag were found on June 2, and on June 5 a helicopter crew spotted a yellow bag, black fleece hat and pink nylon jacket in the same area.

On June 6, aerial photographs confirmed footprints at 5000m, but Ms Fister said yesterday an aerial search of the summit of Mt Foraker - where the women's tracks were last seen - was not possible because flying conditions were too poor.

She said that when the cloud cleared, a high altitude Lama helicopter would check the summit area, and that there would also be periodic examination, as the snow melted, of the avalanche debris where the backpack and other items were found.

McNeill was based at Canmore, near Banff National Park in Canada.

- NZPA