*** Backcountry Skiers Rescued from Stormbound Glacier ***

From: Martin Colwell
sar_admin@mindlink.bc.ca

April 27th, 1996:  - Squamish, BC.

Garibaldi Neve', BC:
Three backcountry skiers were reported missing after being overdue from a
3-day high alpine ski-touring trip across the Garibaldi Neve', in Garibaldi
Provincial Park, B.C..
While the skiers appeared to be skilled and well -
equipped there was some concern about their limited supply of food and fuel,
as well as the possibility of an attempt by the group to climb Mount
Garibaldi, where cliffs and crevasse dangers are always present.

The ski traverse of the sprawling Garibaldi Neve', below the 2,678m/8,786ft
Mount Garibaldi, is a classic alpine ski trip, but is also infamous for its
bad weather, including high winds, heavy snowfalls and frequent whiteouts.

After the three skiers had not returned by early Wednesday 24th, four days
after their departure, Squamish Search & Rescue were asked to respond. A
brief air-search revealed heavy fresh snow below low cloud ceilings,
Ski tracks were seen leading onto the neve' from the Elfin Shelter to the
south, but not exiting from the frozen Garibaldi Lake to the north. Thick
clouds over the neve' did not permit any airsearching of the glacier itself.

Mutual aid SAR teams were called in from Whistler and Lions Bay and a
response planned for Thursday 25th. By daybreak on Thursday, heavy rains at
lower elevations, 25cms of snow above 1220m/4000ft, along with high winds up
to 100km/hr (60mph) and very low visibility made search progress extremely
difficult. By evening teams were stationed in alpine cabins at the Elfin
Shelter, Brohm Ridge and Garibaldi Lake, to the South, West and North of
the neve' respectively, poised for an early morning departure on Friday.

On Friday 26th, as the deployed teams progressed slowly onto the neve',
backups were called in from the North Shore and Coquitlam SAR teams. A
brief opening in the cloud ceiling permitted an air-dropped base-camp to be
deployed at Sentinal Bay, at the remote northern end of the Garibaldi Neve',
approximately 15km/9 miles from the nearest trailhead. Two snowmobiles
were flown in and searchers then ferried up onto the neve', past Pikes Peaks
towards an advance base to be set up under the Sharks Fin ridge.

Near 5pm on Friday a searcher on snowmobiles glimpsed people about 5km/3
miles away near the Sharks Fin. He radioed the searchers in the area who
soon met the three overdue skiers using whistle-blasts to make contact.. The
searchers said 'We have been looking for you." to which the three japanese
skiers replied "We are very pleased to see you!". Under heavy cloud
conditions a helicopter hovered for 40 minutes before a brief opening
permitted a rapid pickup of the skiers, who were transported down to
Sentinal Bay andthen on to Squamish for examination.

The skiers were in good condition, despite having sheltered in their tent
after numerous storm fronts and whiteouts had thwarted all attempts to climb
Garibalid Mountain or get off the neve'. They had camped below the 'Tent'
and then below the Sharks Fin as they tried to move north to Garibaldi Lake.
In a clearing in the cloud they momentarily glimpsed the lake but the
whiteout quickly returned, curtailing any further progress. By a fortunate
misunderstanding two of the skiers had brought fuel, which provided them
with the opportunity to melt enough snow to give them adequate drinking
water, however their last meal was ten peanuts each!

Due to poor weather and aproaching darkness most of the searchers had to
remain in camps until Saturday morning, before being able to make their way
back to the trailheads, after 24 to 48 hours of searching in heavy storm
conditions.

Martin Colwell, Lions Bay Search & Rescue

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