On Sunday, April 21, the bodies of American Jess Roskelley and Austrians Hansj枚rg Auer and David Lama鈥攑rofessional climbers and members of 鈥攚ere recovered from avalanche debris at the base of 10,810-foot Howse Peak in Canada鈥檚 Banff National Park.
The team was climbing M16, a 3,280-foot route on the east face of the peak that was聽first climbed in 1999 by Barry Blanchard, Scott Backes, and Steve House. The line聽is considered one of the most difficult in the area.
According to a report by the : 鈥淛ess Roskelley鈥檚 phone was recovered, and photos indicate the three climbers had reached the summit on Tuesday, April 16 at 12:43 pm and looked to be in absolute joy.鈥
After the men were reported overdue on Wednesday,聽April 17, Parks Canada surveyed the area via helicopter, noting, in聽a release, 鈥渟igns of multiple avalanches and debris containing climbing equipment.鈥澛燭he avalanche that swept the trio from the face was later classified as a size 3 on Canada鈥檚 five-point scale, which means it likely ran for around 3,200 feet and carried 1,100 tons of debris.