<\/p>\n
\nThomas Vialletet who died on Aoraki Mount Cook was described as a careful and diligent guide.
\nPhoto: Supplied\n<\/p>\n
The New Zealand Mountain Guides Association (NZMGA) says guide Thomas Vialletet who died on Aoraki Mount Cook was careful and diligent with experience climbing the mountain.<\/p>\n
On Tuesday police recovered his body and that of a climber from the United States, who died in an overnight fall on Aoraki Mount Cook .<\/p>\n
They were climbers were in a party of four, made up of two New Zealand guides and two clients.<\/p>\n
They were roped together in pairs, climbing from Empress Hut to the summit when the two fell from the mountain’s west ridge.<\/p>\n
Police confirmed one of the climbers was from the US and said they were working with US consulate.<\/p>\n
![\"Aoraki](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/4KJI8W6_corey_serravite_AeiBXg4ZgC8_unsplash_jpg\")
\nOn Tuesday police recovered the body of a mountain guide from Aoraki Mt Cook.
\nPhoto: Unsplash \/ Corey Serravite\n<\/p>\n
Thomas Vialletet, owner of IFMGA Mountain & Ski Guide, grew up in the French Alps where he had been climbing, skiing and exploring mountains for over two decades.<\/p>\n
NZMGA president Anna Keeling said he was a member of their organisation and was “careful and diligent”. She said he had been guiding for at least 12 years.<\/p>\n
He was married with two young children, she said, and had been based in New Zealand for a decade.<\/p>\n
Keeling said he was an internationally certified mountain guidem who had last climbed Aoraki Mount Cook just two weeks ago, “via the quite difficult East Ridge”.<\/p>\n
“He was very qualified to be up there and knew the route well and knew the conditions well this year. So it’s very shocking.”<\/p>\n
Keeling said the conditions on Aoraki Mount Cook at the moment were favourable after all the snow in the past couple of months, but that there was always some risk.<\/p>\n
“We make our clients aware also that we are risk managers, that we cannot entirely eliminate risk.”<\/p>\n
“But they’re willing to accept it for the opportunity for a really tremendous experience, especially on New Zealand’s highest peaks.”<\/p>\n
“Being up on the summit ridge of Aoraki is an incredible experience with amazing views, […] it’s actually indescribable how amazing it is up there. But that reward comes with risk.”<\/p>\n
She said Aoraki Mount Cook was considered a riskier mountain to guide.<\/p>\n
“I have guided Aoraki a number of times. I would say it’s the hardest thing we do as New Zealand guides.”<\/p>\n
Keeling said it was a difficult, arduous and incredibly long climb, and also involved climbing in the dark.<\/p>\n
“Climbing at night is typical because it typically freezes at night and we like to travel on our crampons in firm snow rather than really punchy, soft snow,” she said.<\/p>\n
Keeling said where the climbers fell was a very exposed spot with “no margin for error.”<\/p>\n
She said the New Zealand mountain guiding community was like a family and the guide’s death was a huge blow to the community.<\/p>\n
She said their hearts also went out to the guide’s family and friends.<\/p>\n