Searchers looking for Connor Purvis, 20, located a body high on the southern side of Mt Huxley early yesterday morning.
"While formal identification is yet to take place, it is believed to be the missing 20-year-old who intended to climb Mt Huxley late last month," Otago Coastal Search and Rescue co-ordinator Sergeant Matt Sheat said.
"This was hard work, in a remote, rugged and high-risk environment."
Mr Purvis, who worked at Dunedin shop Bike House, was a cornet player in the Kaikorai Metropolitan Brass.
He was a former student at Otago Boys’ High School.
OBHS rector Richard Hall said Mr Purvis was "a much-loved former student and a fine young man".
"Connor was a significant part of our school community, being the youngest of three brothers to attend Otago Boys’. His loss, while pursuing his passion in the mountains, is felt profoundly by our staff and students."
He contributed over 250 hours to student volunteer work, was a form leader and annually performed a rendition of the Last Post at the school Anzac service.
Mr Hall said Mr Purvis was "defined by his selfless service and leadership".
He was an exceptional student, achieving NCEA levels 1, 2, and 3 with excellence, and earning scholarships in physics and calculus in 2023.
"Beyond his academic and service achievements, Connor was known for his integrity, his curiosity, and his drive to constantly challenge himself. He was a young man of great character who gave back to his school without expectation of reward."
Mr Hall also recognised the service of Richard Roe, a teacher at the school, who was part of the SAR team who had been out looking for Mr Purvis.
"The service of teams like this, in difficult terrains with difficult jobs is something the school appreciates."
Police were grateful to Mr Purvis’ friends and family for their input and assistance with the search.
"Our thoughts and sympathies go out to them during this difficult time."
It is the seventh climbing death in Fiordland and the Southern Alps since late November.
Mountain Safety Council chief executive Mike Daisley said it had been "one of the most tragic climbing seasons in recent times".
"It would be still speculation at the moment in terms of why, but anecdotally, there does seem to be an increase in participation this year.
"There’s been quite a bit of stable, fine weather intermixed with some stormy weather.
"It does seem to be just mountaineering does have some inherent risks and hazards, and with an increased participation, unfortunately, we might start to see increased incidents. We’re definitely not seeing any increased risk-taking."
Careful route selection remained paramount, he said.
"There’s nothing wrong with using the summer and this great weather we do have and exploring New Zealand’s backcountry, but taking that extra time to select a route that’s within your ability is so important.
"An event such as this death does bring into sharp relief that even experienced climbers and mountaineers and backcountry recreationalists can still be caught out."
Mr Daisley said the council would likely conduct a review into the climbing season.
In late December, Police Search and Rescue recovered the bodies of two climbers from Fiordland National Park; one of the deceased was an Australian citizen and the other was a dual citizen of New Zealand and Canada living in Australia.
Just before Christmas, police confirmed two other missing climbers at Aoraki/Mt Cook were likely dead.
On November 24, IFMGA-qualified guide Thomas Vialletet and his client Kellam Conover lost their lives while attempting to traverse Aoraki/Mt Cook.
Federated Mountain Clubs president Megan Dimozantos said she did not want to speculate about why it had been such a torrid period for climbers.
"I personally would change my plans on 50% of the trips that I go on, and that’s because on the day I might be feeling better or worse than I was expecting, or the conditions might be different from what I was expecting."
