‘Lots of avalanche activity’ in BC area where mountaineers are missing

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Searchers in helicopters had a clear view of Atwell Peak on Thursday before the ground search for three missing mountaineers was suspended due to avalanche risks.

Unhindered by cloud or tree cover, they saw no sign of the trio who disappeared seven days ago in the high alpine area near Mount Garibaldi.

Since May 31, the mountain has been hit by snow, rain, and finally sun, causing dangerous conditions as the snow on its steep cliff faces has started to soften and shift, said John Blown, air operations coordinator with North Shore Rescue, which has been assisting with the search.

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Helicopter crews that were up on Wednesday and Thursday saw “lots of avalanche activity,” he said.

While clouds obscured the peak Wednesday, searchers got a clear view of the entire mountain on Thursday. It is easier to spot people on the snow than in dense woods, but searchers “didn’t see anyone.”

In a news release, Squamish RCMP said the decision to temporarily suspend the search Thursday evening was made to ensure the safety of search and rescue teams. It is expected to resume after a reassessment of conditions.

In the meantime, searchers were analyzing drone footage taken earlier this week.

Squamish search and rescue manager B.J. Chute told the Squamish Chief the drone would continue to fly over the area on Friday afternoon, but it would take “several days” to analyze the footage.

The families of the missing mountaineers were flown over Garibaldi Provincial Park earlier this week, confirmed RCMP Cpl. Ashley MacKay.

Blown said searchers usually have a list of tasks they try to accomplish as the weather allows. As storms cleared the Garibaldi area, many of those tasks have been done.

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“At one point, there’s not much more we can do,” he said, adding searchers will have to wait for conditions to change in order to get back into the area on foot.

As part of this week’s efforts, searchers tried to determine if the clothing the climbers were wearing had RECCO reflectors sewn in. Some companies add the passive reflectors to their gear, which allows rescuers to sweep an area with a RECCO detector and to get a signal, even when buried in snow.

North Shore Rescue received the latest generation of the RECCO helicopter-mounted detector in May. But flying over the snow near Atwell Peak this week, the machine did not get a hit, said Blown.

Atwell Peak is known as a summit with no easy way up and is climbed in winter when snow covers the loose volcanic rocks on its steep faces.

Online trip reports say the standard route involves several hundred metres of snow climbing at a 45-degree angle. There are several cornices — shelves of snow that overhang a steep precipice — near the summit.

It’s not uncommon for mountaineers to make several attempts before a successful summit.

Police described the three missing climbers as experienced, but they have not released their ages, or where they live. Their families have asked for privacy, a request that has been respected by B.C.’s close-knit mountaineering community.

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Blown called the situation “very concerning” for both their family and friends, as well as the search and rescue teams who are doing their best to find them.

gluymes@postmedia.com

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