Three experienced climbers were killed in a fall on Joffre Peak in the backcountry north of Pemberton, B.C., RCMP in Whistler have confirmed.
None of the names of those involved has been released by police, but they are described as a male and female in their 30s from the Lower Mainland, and a female in her late 20s who was an international visitor.
Whistler RCMP said they learned of the incident in the remote backcountry location near Joffre Peak, in Joffre Lakes Provincial Park around 1:30 a.m. PT.
According to police, the climbers were part of a larger group, including some skiers, that had plans to rendezvous at the end of the day on Sunday, but when the climbers didn't arrive the skiers went looking for them.
"A small search was conducted by the people they were supposed to meet with, and they reported back they located a body at the base of a cliff they had been climbing, and they were unable to locate the other two people," said Sgt. Rob Knapton.
Police and Pemberton Search and Rescue launched a search using a helicopter at first light on Monday morning.
"Shortly after the search started, three bodies were located approximately 300 metres below the main couloir at Joffre Peak," said Knapton.
A couloir is a steep narrow chute or gully on the side of a mountain.
"The information I have is they are experienced in the backcountry, and they are experienced at what they were doing," Knapton said.
