BANFF, Alberta (AP) -- Two of three ice climbers killed in an avalanche at Banff National Park were experienced mountaineers, police officers and members of a Washington state mountain rescue unit, the unit's operations chairman said Friday.
``These were experienced climbers,'' said Gus Bush of the Tacoma, Wash., Mountain Rescue Unit. ``I knew they had planned to go. This was the third year they've gone up there. They were climbing waterfalls.''
The victims were not wearing avalanche beacons, Canadian authorities said.
The victims were identified as Pierce County Sheriff's Deputy James Andrues, 66; Redmond, Wash., police officer John Miner, 53; and Russ Howard, 42, a civilian employee with the Redmond police.
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 skier who was lost for five days last month near a 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 on Thursday when the avalanche apparently knocked them off their climbing route, Parks Canada spokeswoman Shelley Humphries said.
The search began when the second climbing party reported their friends were overdue at a prearranged meeting point.
Two bodies were found late 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.
Mount Wilson, a popular spot for ice climbers, rises 10,695 feet overlooking Bow Pass. Parks Canada has reported a considerable risk for avalanches in the area in the last two days because of prolonged sun exposure on the south slopes.
