A watch that may have belonged to an American tramper who went missing more than nine months ago has been found by children.
Ed Reynolds, 39, was last seen leaving the East Matakitaki Hut heading for Three Tarn Pass in Nelson Lakes National Park on February 23.
Tasman police district assistant search and rescue co-ordinator Sherp Tucker said the strapless, digital watch face would be a "very, very significant" find, if it belonged to Mr Reynolds.
"It takes us from one side of the mountain to the other side of the mountain and an hour-and-a-half from what his destination was," he told the Nelson Mail.
Mr Reynolds was known to be carrying a digital Casio watch with the straps removed.
"That's how committed he was to lightweight tramping."
The watch was discovered in the Cannibal Gorge part of the St James walkway in late October.