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Canada avalanche: Three elite climbers believed killed in Rockies | |
(about 7 hours later) | |
Three professional climbers are presumed dead after an avalanche in the Canadian Rockies, authorities say. | Three professional climbers are presumed dead after an avalanche in the Canadian Rockies, authorities say. |
The three mountaineers were attempting to scale Howse Peak and failed to check in on schedule. | The three mountaineers were attempting to scale Howse Peak and failed to check in on schedule. |
National park staff flew over the area where they were climbing and saw evidence of "avalanches and debris containing climbing equipment". | National park staff flew over the area where they were climbing and saw evidence of "avalanches and debris containing climbing equipment". |
Recovery efforts are on hold because of dangerous conditions and additional avalanches at the scene. | Recovery efforts are on hold because of dangerous conditions and additional avalanches at the scene. |
Those efforts are likely to be further hampered by bad weather in the coming days. | Those efforts are likely to be further hampered by bad weather in the coming days. |
Outdoor clothing company The North Face has identified the men as David Lama and Hansjoerg Auer from Austria, and Jess Roskelley, from the US. | |
The three were sponsored by the firm which said in a statement it was doing everything it could to support their families, friends and the climbing community. | |
The climbers went missing when they were attempting to scale the east side of Howse Peak, which Parks Canada described as a "remote and an exceptionally difficult objective, with mixed rock and ice routes requiring advanced alpine mountaineering skills". | The climbers went missing when they were attempting to scale the east side of Howse Peak, which Parks Canada described as a "remote and an exceptionally difficult objective, with mixed rock and ice routes requiring advanced alpine mountaineering skills". |
The route taken by the climbers was rarely traversed, safety specialist Steve Holeczi said during a press conference. | The route taken by the climbers was rarely traversed, safety specialist Steve Holeczi said during a press conference. |
Mr Holeczi, who was among those who flew over the avalanche site, estimated the avalanche to be strong enough to destroy a small building. | Mr Holeczi, who was among those who flew over the avalanche site, estimated the avalanche to be strong enough to destroy a small building. |
Howse Peak, with a 3,295 metre (10,800 foot) elevation, is in the Canadian province of Alberta, in Banff National Park. | Howse Peak, with a 3,295 metre (10,800 foot) elevation, is in the Canadian province of Alberta, in Banff National Park. |
Who are the men? | Who are the men? |
Mr Roskelley, 36, from Spokane, Washington state, scaled Mount Everest at age 20. | Mr Roskelley, 36, from Spokane, Washington state, scaled Mount Everest at age 20. |
The son of a famous mountaineer, he was the youngest American to reach the summit of the world's highest peak in 2003. | The son of a famous mountaineer, he was the youngest American to reach the summit of the world's highest peak in 2003. |
Mr Lama, 28, is also from a climbing family - his father was a mountain guide from Nepal - and his talent was recognised at an early age. | Mr Lama, 28, is also from a climbing family - his father was a mountain guide from Nepal - and his talent was recognised at an early age. |
He won numerous climbing competitions as a teenager. | He won numerous climbing competitions as a teenager. |
In 2014, a film was released that documented his attempt to become the first person to free-climb the Compressor Route on Patagonia's Cerro Torre mountain. | In 2014, a film was released that documented his attempt to become the first person to free-climb the Compressor Route on Patagonia's Cerro Torre mountain. |
Mr Auer, 35, grew up on a family farm in Austria near the Dolomite mountain range. | Mr Auer, 35, grew up on a family farm in Austria near the Dolomite mountain range. |
Among his most recognised climbing achievements are the southwest-face ascent of Pakistan's Kunyang Chhish East in the Karakorum Mountains and the first ascent of the south face on Nilgiri South in Nepal. | Among his most recognised climbing achievements are the southwest-face ascent of Pakistan's Kunyang Chhish East in the Karakorum Mountains and the first ascent of the south face on Nilgiri South in Nepal. |
Fellow climbers and many in the global climbing community expressed sadness at the reports. | Fellow climbers and many in the global climbing community expressed sadness at the reports. |