Bodies of 3 missing climbers found near Squamish, B.C.

RCMP in Squamish, B.C., say three bodies have been recovered from an area where three mountain climbers went missing just over a month ago.

The names of the deceased have not been released.

The bodies were recovered Monday in the area of Atwell Peak in Garibaldi Provincial Park. 

Squamish Search and Rescue worked with the RCMP on the recovery, and the B.C. Coroners Service has now been called in, according to a statement from the Squamish RCMP.

The climbers were supposed to return to the Diamond Head trailhead on May 31, where they had left their vehicle.

Unstable conditions and bad weather in the high mountain terrain forced the suspension of search and rescue efforts on June 6.

On June 8, officials said they were switching tactics, opting to review aerial video footage given the "dangerous terrain" and conditions on the ground. 

Atwell Peak is 2,655 metres high, located just south of Mount Garibaldi's main summit, around 65 kilometres north of Vancouver. It is described as one of the most technical and challenging ascents in B.C.'s Coast Mountains.

The search operation in early June deployed helicopter, ground crews, drones and avalanche search dogs.

WATCH | Rescue teams describe technical nature of their search: 

3 climbers still missing near Squamish, B.C.

6 months ago

Duration 1:37

Avalanche and heavy snowfall risk are posing a challenge to the search for three missing climbers near Squamish, B.C. As Georgie Smyth reports, rescuers have not had any communication with the trio.

Squamish Search and Rescue manager B.J. Chute earlier described to CBC News the challenging nature of reaching the peak.

"This is not a casual day hike by any stretch," said Chute. "It's a highly technical climb that's going to require ropes, crampons, harnesses, extreme experience and extreme training to get into."