Recovery Team Confirms Fate of Famed Climbing Trio

Even the most skilled mountain climbers in the world are no match for a major avalanche. A recovery team in Canada's Banff National Park has recovered the bodies of renowned mountaineers Jess Roskelley, 36, Hansjorg Auer, 35, and David Lama, 28, reports the Calgary Herald. Roskelley is American and his partners are Austrian, and their bodies were found Sunday. They had been attempting to scale the east face of Howse Pass, which the Guardian describes as an "isolated and highly difficult route."

Rescuers hadn't held out much hope after the three went missing late Tuesday in what is believed to be a "Size 3" avalanche on the 1-to-5 scale, or one that covers more than half a mile. “We would ... like to acknowledge the impact that this has had on the tight-knit, local and international climbing communities," says Parks Canada. "Our thoughts are with families, friends and all those who have been affected by this tragic incident.” (More mountain climber stories.)