Historical Incidents

Incident Summary

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.