3 Climbers Killed In Avalanche

"These were experienced climbers," Gus Bush said. "I knew they had planned to go. This was the third year they've gone up there. They were climbing waterfalls."

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police identified the victims as Pierce County Sheriff's Deputy James Andrues, 66; Redmond, Wash., police officer John Miner, 53; and Russ Howard, 42.

Howard was Lead Traffic Signal Technician in the Redmond Public Works Department, a Redmond city official said, and was a very experienced climber.

"You can prepare against it and take all kinds of safety measures, but there's always that chance, especially when you're climbing ice," Bush said.

Andrues and Miner were active in Tacoma Mountain Rescue searches, though Howard was not, Bush said.

Andrues helped search for Dan Witkowski, a 25-year-old Ellensburg skier who was lost for five days last month near Alpental Ski Area east of Seattle, Bush said. Witkowski survived, but was undergoing surgery Friday to amputate his feet and ankles.

The three, part of two climbing parties, were on Mount Wilson north of Lake Louise when the avalanche apparently knocked them off their climbing route, Parks Canada spokeswoman Shelley Humphries said.

The search began around 9:30 p.m. when climbers in the second party reported their friends were overdue at a prearranged meeting point.

Two bodies were found Thursday while the third was located Friday morning after a dozen park wardens using dogs and probes combed the avalanche debris at the bottom of an ice waterfall where the trio had been climbing.

The victims were not wearing avalanche beacons, Canadian authorities said.

Mount Wilson, a popular spot for ice climbers, rises 10,695 feet overlooking Bow Pass. It has high cliffs that stretch for nearly 7 miles.

Parks Canada has reported a considerable risk for avalanches in the area in the last two days given the prolonged sun exposure on the south slopes of the mountain.

Last year was the worst year for avalanche deaths in Canada. The Canadian Avalanche Association says 29 people died, including 19 skiers, nine snowmobilers and two others.