Climbers from U.S., Canada missing on New Zealand’s tallest mountain presumed dead

On the ethereal slopes of Aoraki/Mount Cook, New Zealand’s radiant giant, tragedy has unfurled. Three climbers, their dreams intertwined with the mountain’s icy embrace, have vanished without a trace. Despite valiant search efforts, their fates remain cast in the unforgiving silence of the alpine realm.

As the sun bathes the summit in a golden glow, the echoes of their laughter and the clang of their ice axes linger like faint whispers. But now, their story takes a somber turn, as the search party returns with heavy hearts, their hopes extinguished by the harsh reality of the unforgiving wilderness.