RCMP in Squamish, B.C. say three bodies have been recovered from an area where three hikers 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.
The trio of experienced climbers was last seen on May 31, according to officials. Unstable conditions and bad weather in the high mountain terrain forced the suspension of search and rescue efforts in early June.
Atwell Peak is 2,655 metres high, located just south of Mount Garibaldi’s main summit. It is described as one of the most technical and challenging ascents in B.C.’s Coast Mountains, and is located 65 km north of Vancouver.
The search operation in early June deployed helicopter, ground crews, drones and avalanche search dogs.
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 manger BJ Chute earlier described to CBC 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.”
The climbers were supposed to return to the Diamond Head trailhead on May 31, where they had left their vehicle.