‘Always had a smile on his face’: Respected Wānaka-based mountain guide and father remembered

Thursday, 27 November 2025

A Wānaka mountain guide and father of two who died while attempting to reach the summit of Aoraki Mt Cook has been remembered as a vibrant man who was always smiling.

On Monday night, Thomas Vialletet and a client from the United States who has been named as Kellam Conover were in a party of four, climbing from Empress Hut to the summit when the pair fell from the mountain's west ridge.

The other two climbers were safely airlifted off the mountain at 2.15am on Tuesday morning, while the bodies of Vialletet and his client were located at 7am and recovered at midday.

A Givealittle page for Vialletet's family set up by a family friend was nearing $97,000 in donations to help support his wife and two children.

Vialletet co-owned mountain and ski guide company Summit Explorers with his wife, Danielle Vialletet.

Wānaka Rock Climbing owner Loz Ogle said he was devastated to hear the news about Vialletet, who he shared a professional and personal relationship with.

“He was a respected and good person,” Ogle said.

“We always made sure to stop and chat every time we saw each other out in the field.

“Now that I think back, Thomas was always happy and always had a smile on his face.”

Ogle said when tragedy struck anyone in Wānaka, the community would rally to support those affected.

Wānaka Mountain Guides owner and operator Tim Steward said the small and close-knit mountain guides community in Wānaka were “all pretty shaken” by the tragedy.

Steward said he had known Vialletet ever since he arrived in Wānaka, and they had occasionally worked together.

“I’m pretty devastated,” he said.

“He was a highly respected mountain guide, he had exceptional technical abilities and he was vibrant and popular.”

Steward said the mountain guides community in Wānaka had rallied around Vialletet’s wife.

The Givealittle page said Vialletet was the core provider for his family, and their financial security was dependent on the income generated by their small guiding business.

“His sudden loss means Danielle and the children face the immediate challenge of losing their main source of income, compounding their immense grief.

“Through his guidance, kindness, and professionalism, Thomas profoundly touched the lives of countless clients, mentees, and friends.

“His expertise and passion for the mountains earned him deep respect across the entire guiding and climbing community. His absence will be hugely missed by all who knew him.”

Vialletet was a highly qualified guide and member of the International Federation of Mountain Guides Associations.

Vialletet was part of the French National Young Alpinism Team between 2009 and 2012, before diverting his passion towards guiding.