Two Otago-based climbers are dead after falling while climbing one of New Zealand's most difficult mountain faces.
The bodies of the two men, members of the New Zealand Alpine Team, were recovered yesterday by a Southland police search and rescue team from an area below Marian Peak in the Darran Mountains, Fiordland.
While the bodies were found late on Monday, the terrain was so difficult it was decided to wait until yesterday to recover them.
The two were reported missing on Monday afternoon after they had been overdue for 24 hours.
A search by helicopter on Monday evening located the climbers at the base of a climbing face where they had ''clearly suffered a fall'', Sergeant Tod Hollebon, of Te Anau, said.
Police said the two climbers left Homer Hut near the Milford Road on Saturday, and their intended route was Barrier Knob to Barrier Peak, a descent into Marian Valley and then the ascent of Marian Peak.
Police were last night contacting next of kin.
The New Zealand Alpine Team's website says it comprises New Zealand alpine climbers who volunteer their time to mentor a future generation of alpine climbers.
It takes applicants aged between 18 and 25 and provides three years of training to further their climbing skills.
The Darran Mountains is a popular climbing area for advanced climbers.
An NZ Alpine Team member said the area where the two men were climbing was one of New Zealand's bigger mountain faces.
''It's really as difficult as it gets in terms of rock climbing in New Zealand.''
Southern Lakes Helicopters owner Sir Richard Hayes flew the chopper that searched for the climbers.
He was called to find the pair after they were reported overdue by a third climber.
Sir Richard first flew to Homer Hut to pick up the man who raised the alarm.
''He gave us an indication of where they were attempting to climb and traverse, so we flew that route and started at the bottom of a virtually vertical cliff band at the southern aspect of Mt Marian,'' he said.
''We had a result right at the bottom of Mt Marian at the head of Marian Valley itself.''
The bodies of the climbers were found about 6pm as the sun was setting.
Police were on the helicopter but the terrain was so tricky it was decided to wait until daylight to recover the bodies.
Sir Richard flew the police search and rescue team out again yesterday and hovered over a large rock where he dropped them off.
About an hour later he returned and flew the victims' bodies back using 20m long-lines.
The company did a lot of search and rescue work in the area around the Darran Mountains, Sir Richard said.
''It's very popular with the climbing fraternity.''
- Additional reporting by Dubby Henry, The New Zealand Herald
