Drones, dogs, helicopters and ground crews search for missing mountaineers in B.C.

Jun 6, 2024 | 12:09 PM

**Update at 4:24 p.m. Thursday: After extensive efforts, Sea to Sky RCMP – Squamish in collaboration with Squamish Search and Rescue, Integrated Police Dog Services, North Shore Search and Rescue and RCMP Air Services are temporarily suspending the search for the three missing mountaineers on Atwell Peak in Garibaldi Provincial Park.

Over the last two days, an aerial scene assessment and a partial ground search were completed which included the collection of video footage obtained using a Remotely Piloted Aircraft System (RPAS). Significant challenges due to current unstable conditions have resulted in the decision to suspend the search to ensure the safety of search and rescue teams.

It is anticipated the search will resume following analysis of RPAS footage and reassessment of the conditions. An exact timeline is uncertain and will be dependent on the conditions as well as a continuous risk assessment.

Sea to Sky RCMP – Squamish are urging the public to avoid venturing into the area as the terrain is currently hazardous and poses significant risk.

The families of the missing individuals are requesting privacy during this difficult time. We kindly ask that their wishes be respected as they await updates on continued search efforts. Names of the missing individuals are not being released.

No further information will be released at this time and updates will be provided if there are significant developments.**

Original story below: 

SQUAMISH, B.C. — The search and rescue team in Squamish, B.C., says helicopters, ground crews, drones and avalanche dogs are involved in the search for three mountaineers missing for nearly a week.

A social media post by the team says the search resumed at 5:30 a.m. Thursday in the area on Mount Garibaldi where the trio was last seen on May 31.

It says the previous day’s effort involved three helicopters, including one equipped with a rescue-signal detector, but low cloud hampered the operation.

In a separate post on Facebook, the search and rescue team from nearby North Vancouver says it worked with the Squamish crew and Talon Helicopters to search the southern edge of Mount Garibaldi.

North Shore Rescue says they used a rescue detector hung under a helicopter in case one of the missing mountaineers had equipment sending out a signal.

The team shared photos showing the helicopter’s view of a steep mountainside with bare rock jutting out from beneath snow cover during the flyover.

The climbers were reported missing from Atwell Peak, part of Mount Garibaldi, a popular backcountry area about 70 kilometres north of Vancouver.

Poor weather and high avalanche risk had been hampering the search in the area that rescuers describe as remote, with “complex terrain.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 6, 2024.

The Canadian Press