Crews searching for 3 missing mountaineers near Squamish, B.C.

A search effort has been launched for a trio of mountain climbers who were reported overdue after not returning from their excursion near Squamish, B.C.

A search effort has been launched for a trio of mountain climbers who were reported overdue after not returning from their excursion near Squamish, B.C.

The mountaineers left for Atwell Peak in Garibaldi Park northeast of the city on Friday and have not been heard from since.

Squamish Search and Rescue and the RCMP have been trying to locate them, but the search effort has been hampered by inclement weather conditions, according to a Sunday news release from local Mounties.

Rescue crews are also challenged by “extreme avalanche conditions” in the area, police said.

“This area is not a walk in the park, this was a very technical mission by experienced mountaineers,” said BJ Chute, a manager with SSAR.

He told CTV News SSAR sent a helicopter, a ground team and a drone to the area on Saturday morning, but the mountain was deemed too unsafe to access.

The Royal Canadian Air Force’s 442 Transport and Rescue Squadron was also dispatched from Comox.