My husband has been missing on Ben Nevis since February

The wife of an American climber last seen on Ben Nevis almost four months ago said her grief is "on hold" while she waits for answers.

Kym McGillicuddy last told husband Brian "I love you" over text on 17 February - two days before he was reported missing on the UK's highest mountain.

The New Yorker flew to Scotland to join the initial search for Brian, 64, but he has yet to be located more than 100 days on.

Police Scotland said Brian was still being treated as a missing person and that any new information that came to light would be fully assessed.

"Brian had been planning the trip for months and he was super excited about going," Kym told BBC Scotland News.

It was the father-of-one's second hiking trip to Ben Nevis.

"He has been climbing for over 50 years, he started as a kid during summer camp and it just spiralled from there," she said.

"When he was an adult he got into rock climbing and ice climbing.

"He loved to go to Scotland and Italy but Yosemite was one of his favourite places to go.

"Brian actually got me into rock climbing too and we used to travel all over together, when I could still take part.

"He also loved to go to climb in the Adirondack Mountains which are near where we live."

During his trip to Scotland the couple had been texting back and forth with day-long gaps due to the time difference.

It meant that, at first, Kym was not alarmed when she lost contact with her husband.

"Brian was there for two weeks, he spent the first week with one group of buddies and the second with another friend from America," she said.

"It was a Thursday in February, on his second week of the trip, that he was reported missing.

"His climbing partner from the second week of the trip was the one to report him missing, nobody knew my number to phone me.

"I found out from a mutual climbing friend who saw the appeal.

"She told me he was missing - straight away I knew it was serious because I hadn't heard from him in 30 hours."

It is believed the experienced ice climber may have been attempting the Orion Face Direct route, one of the mountain's most difficult ice climbing routes, when contact was lost.

Kym and sister-in-law Kirsten Swanson McGillicuddy, flew out to join the search but it was put on hold due to treacherous weather conditions.

Mountain rescue, coastguard, drone pilots, and search and rescue dog teams took part in the operation in challenging winter conditions.

Kym said: "There was a point the police told us that the search had changed from search and rescue to recovery.

"There were no results and the weather was getting worse so we had to return back to America.

"Police Scotland told us they would keep looking and be in touch

"This week police said the search will continue, primarily with drones but conditions remain difficult and they are waiting for more snow to recede so they can expand their search."

With no results the heartbreak continues for the family.

A celebration of life service was held on 14 March at a church in their hometown of Harrison.

The family said it would mean everything to finally get some answers.

"Now we are assuming the worst. Brian was a wonderful man and we all miss and love him so much," Kym said.

"Everything is hard enough since we are grieving but without a death certificate it is hard to take the next steps because there is so much red tape.

"It still feels like this is happening to somebody else. It's a horrible reality to live in.

"I find the morning's most difficult - when I first wake up that's when I realise he is gone all over again."

Brian is described as 6ft 1in (1.85m), of slim build, with short grey and white hair.

When last seen, he was wearing a white climbing helmet, a dark blue jacket, white jeans and blue and red gaiters.

Police previously appealed for information from anyone who could help establish Brian's intended route, and appealed to anyone who may have seen him in the area in February to come forward.

Volunteers from Lochaber, Glencoe, Oban, Police Scotland and RAF Lossiemouth mountain rescue teams and Search and Rescue Dog Association (Scotland) have all helped carry out searches.

A coastguard helicopter has also been involved in rescue efforts.