The Atwell Peak area of Mount Garibaldi, near Squamish, B.C. is shown from a helicopter, in this handout image provided by North Shore Rescue, on June 5.HO/The Canadian Press
Search and rescue teams in Squamish, B.C., temporarily suspended their efforts Thursday to locate three mountaineers missing for nearly a week.
The pause stems from “significant challenges” posed by unstable conditions on Mount Garibaldi where the trio was last seen on May 31, RCMP said in a statement.
It said the decision was made to ensure the safety of search and rescue crews.
The families of the missing climbers were “requesting privacy during this difficult time,” RCMP said, adding the names of the missing were not being released.
The Mounties said they expected the search effort would resume following analysis of two days of video footage captured by drones.
They said the timing would depend on weather conditions and reassessment of risks in the area that rescuers describe as remote, with “complex terrain.”
Christy Allan with Squamish Search and Rescue said on Monday that the area was “socked in” with clouds and moisture, reducing visibility for rescue personnel.
RCMP issued a statement the next day saying adverse weather conditions and high avalanche risk were impeding the search, but clearer skies were in the forecast.
Crews had an opportunity on Wednesday to assess the area by air. The effort involved three helicopters, including one equipped with a rescue-signal detector.
Still, a social media post by Squamish Search and Rescue said low cloud cover had hampered the operation.
Thursday’s effort had involved helicopters, drones, ground crews and avalanche dogs, before the search was suspended.
The climbers were reported missing last Friday from Atwell Peak, part of Mount Garibaldi, a popular backcountry area about 70 kilometres north of Vancouver.
Local search and rescue teams have shared photos showing aerial views of a steep mountainside with bare rock jutting out from beneath snow cover.
The Mounties have asked members of the public to keep away from the area, saying the terrain is “hazardous and poses significant risk.”