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Two US Climbers Killed In British Columbia Two ice climbers were killed this weekend after falling over 700 feet into a crevasse on Mount Joffre, British Columbia. John Bernard Stone, 51, of Bellevue, WA, and Joseph Dejames, 48, of Ocean Grove, NJ, were reported missing Monday morning after they failed to return home from the weekend trip. According to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police in Pemberton, BC, Stone and Dejames were ice climbing on the Anniversary Glacier when they fell "700 to 800 feet down the northeast side." Investigators have been contacted by other climbers who were in the area, police said Wednesday, but they have not released any further details. The men were found roped together in the bottom of the crevasse Monday morning. Police were able to launch the search effort immediately after receiving the missing persons report as a rescue helicopter had coincidentally just arrived at the park on another mission. Police said the recovery was slow and arduous as conditions were dangerous. Investigators have not yet determined a cause for the fall. The two were on a weekend climb of 8,900' Mount Joffre, in the Cayoosh Range. They were reported missing by family in the US who arrived in BC Monday night. Mounts Joffre and Matier are part of the Joffre Lakes Recreation Area, a provincial park northeast of Whistler Mountain, BC. — Sarah Love, Mountain Zone Staff |
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