Drones, dogs assist search for missing climbers in Garibaldi Park
Avalanche risk and 'extreme winter conditions' in mountains pose challenge
UPDATE — June 6, 2024, 5 p.m. PT: Search-and-rescue teams have temporarily suspended their efforts to find three mountaineers who have been missing near Squamish, B.C.
Rescue crews are resuming their search for a trio of missing climbers in Garibaldi Park near Squamish, B.C., who have not been heard from for six days.
Squamish Search and Rescue said efforts resumed Thursday "at first light" around 5:30 a.m. PT, with helicopters, ground searchers, drones and avalanche search dogs all involved in the operation.
The three climbers were attempting to summit Atwell Peak, a 2,655-metre mountain around 65 kilometres north of Vancouver that is described as one of the most technical and challenging ascents in B.C.'s Coast Mountains.
"This is not a casual day hike by any stretch," Squamish Search and Rescue manager B.J. Chute said.
"It's a highly technical climb that's going to require ropes, crampons, harnesses, extreme experience and extreme training to get into."
Atwell Peak is part of the Mount Garibaldi massif, which dominates Garibaldi Park.
The climbers were supposed to return to the Diamond Head trailhead on May 31, where they had left their vehicle.
Poor weather and avalanche risk prevented crews from searching the mountains for several days.
A break in the weather Wednesday meant several helicopters were able to fly over the region until late in the evening, though they weren't able to get high enough into the mountains to conduct a ground search due to ongoing dangerous conditions.
In an interview on CBC's The Early Edition Thursday morning, Chute emphasized that the danger of heavy snowfall and avalanches in the mountains is still front of mind for rescue operations.
"Especially in the high alpine, where we are working, we're still hampered by extreme winter conditions," he said.
He said the warming weather made the risk of avalanche even greater, giving crews an "extremely limited window," to find the climbers.
While it is uncertain where the climbers are, he said, crews are operating under the assumption that they are somewhere near Atwell Peak, so that is where they are focusing their initial efforts.
The identities of the climbers have not been made public but police say all three are experienced mountaineers. Chute said it is known the climbers had all the proper equipment to help them survive.
