B.C. outdoor community remembers three men lost in avalanche

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Families and friends of three men who died in an avalanche after reaching the summit of Atwell Peak in Garibaldi Provincial Park in British Columbia in May are raising funds for the search and rescue team that led the five-week search for them.

Funds raised through a GoFundMe Page The event will support the celebration of life for Chris Gulka and Jon Bchner, in addition to the Squamish Search and Rescue Team. Family and friends are hoping to raise $10,000, with at least $5,000 going to the Squamish Search and Rescue Team for their outstanding service and support during the search and rescue period.

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Gulka, Bchner and a third climber, whose name has not been released, reached the summit of Atwell Peak on the morning of May 31 before being caught in a catastrophic avalanche, a post on the GoFundMe page said.

Our community is devastated by this loss, the message continued. These young men embodied the spirit of adventure, resilience and camaraderie that defines the mountain community of British Columbia’s Lower Mainland. They were more than just climbers. Their love of life and warm hearts touched many lives, both within the climbing and outdoor communities and in their work and personal lives.

The Squamish Search and Rescue team was notified by police after the men failed to return from the mountain the evening after reaching the summit. Several searchers were able to hike to the Elfin Lakes shelter, but struggled to access the remote area surrounding Atwell Peak as a storm approached.

Over the next few days, efforts to fly into the area were hampered by rain and fog. The Squamish team received assistance from a military helicopter, search and rescue teams from Whistler and the North Shore, and a drone, but all were ultimately grounded.

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Squamish Rescue Team Leader BJ Chute told media it was still winter in the mountains.

A few days later, the weather improved and rising temperatures triggered the spring snowmelt. Helicopters were able to get a clear view of the summit about a week after the men disappeared.

John Blown, North Shore Rescue's air operations coordinator, told Postmedia that crews saw signs of avalanche activity as snow on the cliff faces around the summit began to soften and shift, but no sign of the men.

At 2,655 metres above sea level, Atwell Peak is known for being a difficult summit to climb and is usually climbed in winter, when snow covers the loose volcanic rock of its steep walls.

Online travelogues indicate that the standard route involves several hundred meters of climbing through snow at a 45-degree angle. Several snow cornices usually overhang a steep precipice near the summit.

Data published on a website that tracks Successful summits show that Gulka successfully reached the summit of Atwell Peak on May 31.

As the search entered a different phase, the Squamish Search and Rescue team reviewed aerial imagery, including drone footage of the area, for clues.

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More than a month after their disappearance, the bodies of the three climbers were found on July 8.

Gulka and Bchner were both experienced climbers and well-known in B.C.’s tight-knit climbing community, with several difficult ascents under their belts. Gulka was training to be a paramedic, according to online postings, and was a rower at the University of Victoria. Bchner was a professional photographer, taking stunning photos of snow-capped peaks and dense forests. Both were from Langley.

A celebration of life is planned for August to honor their remarkable spirit, incredible adventures and exceptional characters.

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