Incidents historiques

Résumé de l'incident

Date
2024-05-31
Location
Atwell Peak
Location Description
Garibaldi Provincial Park, approximately 15 km northeast of Squamish
Province
BC
Coordinates
49.83823 °, -123.00508 °
Elevation
2600 m
Activity
Mountaineering
Involvement
3
Injury
0
Fatality
3
Description
A group of three mountaineers is presumed to have been caught in an avalanche while descending Atwell Peak. It is believed the group triggered the avalanche while descending the Southeast Couloir. All three were buried and killed. The group was reported missing on the evening of May 31. Search and rescue teams were dispatched on June 1, but were unable to locate the subjects in the days following the incident due to poor weather conditions and elevated avalanche risk. The subjects were not wearing avalanche transceivers. A successful recovery operation was completed on July 8, once sufficient snow had melted for them to become partly visible. The weather was reported as clear and sunny during the group’s climb on May 31. However, a period of stormy weather was recorded prior to the incident from May 26 to May 29. Stormy weather also occurred immediately after the incident, which increased the subjects’ burial depth and made it harder for rescuers to locate them. At least one additional avalanche occurred in the Southeast Couloir on or around June 3, further burying them. As all three members of the group died and the incident was not otherwise witnessed, uncertainty remains about several details. This report may be updated if additional information becomes available.

Avalanches

Date/HeureTailleTypeDéclencheurAltitudeVersantLargeur de la plaqueÉpaisseur de la plaque
-SSa2600 mSE--

Weather

Température actuelleTempérature maximaleTempérature minimaleTendance 24hVitesse du ventDirection du ventCondition du cielType et intensité des précipitations
---RR----

Commentaire météo: The weather at the nearby Tantalus weather station (elevation 320 m) showed the weather on May 31 to be dry with light, variable winds. Temperatures rose rapidly from 4.3C at 6am to a high of 19.1C at 5pm. A summit photo showed sunny skies mid-morning. A storm was recorded between May 26 and May 29. At the Tantalus weather station, 45 mm of precipitation was recorded during this period.

Snowpack

Manteau neigeuxNeige 24 hrsNeige de tempêteDate de la tempête
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Documents

Date du documentTitreSource
2024-06-06Southeast face of Atwell PeakSquamish SARVue