Bodies of 3 missing climbers found near Squamish, B.C.

RCMP in Squamish, B.C. say three bodies have been recovered from an area where three mountain climbers went missing over a month ago.

Trio of experienced climbers had set out to scale Atwell Peak in Garibaldi Provincial Park, last seen May 31

Karin Larsen · CBC News · Posted: Jul 08, 2024 5:34 PM EDT | Last Updated: July 8

A red search and rescue helicopter flies with clouds in the background. — Cloudy, stormy weather, as seen in this file photo, made it difficult for Squamish Search and Rescue to deploy helicopters to Atwell Peak in Garibaldi Park in their efforts to locate three missing climbers. On Monday, RCMP announced that three bodies were recovered just over a month after the search began. (@squamishsar/Instagram)

RCMP in Squamish, B.C., say three bodies have been recovered from an area where three mountain climbers went missing just over a month ago.

The names of the deceased have not been released.

The bodies were recovered Monday in the area of Atwell Peak in Garibaldi Provincial Park.

Squamish Search and Rescue worked with the RCMP on the recovery, and the B.C. Coroners Service has now been called in, according to a statement from the Squamish RCMP.

A map showing the location of Atwell Peak in relation to Vancouver and Squamish. — The missing climbers were last seen near Atwell Peak, a subsidiary summit of Mount Garibaldi. (CBC)

The climbers were supposed to return to the Diamond Head trailhead on May 31, where they had left their vehicle.

Unstable conditions and bad weather in the high mountain terrain forced the suspension of search and rescue efforts on June 6.

On June 8, officials said they were switching tactics, opting to review aerial video footage given the "dangerous terrain" and conditions on the ground.

Atwell Peak is 2,655 metres high, located just south of Mount Garibaldi's main summit, around 65 kilometres north of Vancouver. It is described as one of the most technical and challenging ascents in B.C.'s Coast Mountains.

The search operation in early June deployed helicopter, ground crews, drones and avalanche search dogs.

WATCH | Rescue teams describe technical nature of their search:

3 climbers still missing near Squamish, B.C.

2 months ago

1:37

Avalanche and heavy snowfall risk are posing a challenge to the search for three missing climbers near Squamish, B.C. As Georgie Smyth reports, rescuers have not had any communication with the trio.

Squamish Search and Rescue manager B.J. Chute earlier described to CBC News the challenging nature of reaching the peak.

"This is not a casual day hike by any stretch," said Chute. "It's a highly technical climb that's going to require ropes, crampons, harnesses, extreme experience and extreme training to get into."