Three bodies recovered from BC park where climbers went missing: RCMP

SQUAMISH, BRITISH COLUMBIA — Three bodies were recovered Monday from British Columbia’s Garibaldi Provincial Park, where a trio of climbers went missing more than a month ago.

In a statement released by the Squamish RCMP, Squamish Search and Rescue manager BJ Chute said the team worked with police to conduct the recovery operation in the Atwell Peak area on the edge of Mount Garibaldi.

RCMP have not released the names of those who died, saying their families have requested privacy.

The three climbers were last seen on May 31 in what Squamish Search and Rescue member Christy Allan described as “really complex and remote.”

The first days of the search operation were hampered by poor weather conditions, including a high avalanche risk and low visibility in the backcountry area, about 70 kilometers north of Vancouver.

At the time, Allan said searchers usually had access to the area by air and land, but winter conditions made that difficult. A crew was able to reach the shelter at Elfin Lakes in the park, she said, but later had to retreat.

On June 6, nearly a week after the trio went missing, Squamish Search and Rescue shared an update saying helicopters, ground crews, drones and avalanche dogs were involved in the effort to find them. A helicopter was said to be equipped with a distress signal detector, although low cloud cover continued to hamper the search.

A subsequent update later that day said the team had temporarily suspended the search, while another warning two days later said they had not completely stopped looking.

The June 8 statement said the team was changing tactics, opting to review aerial video footage given the “dangerous terrain” and conditions on the ground.

The RCMP and BC Coroners Service are now investigating the deaths.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published on July 8, 2024.

The Canadian Press