The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) say the 1,000-cubic-meter slab of granite fell from the mountain in the North Walls area of the north peak, reports the Squamish Chief.
Within one hour of the slide, six ambulances, as well as fire and police vehicles were on hand. Besides local townspeople, hikers came in from the trails of Valleycliffe to stand in awe of the massive slide.
“The sound was incredible,” said local resident Kirsten Andrews. “It was terrifying.” Andrews watched the slide from her home, only kilometers away from the site. She added, “I pray no one was there.” Andrews posted a video of the slide in progress on her Facebook page.
Police have reported no injuries or deaths as a result of the slide, although four climbers known to be in the area have been accounted for. RCMP Insp. Davis Wendell said, “What we are looking for now is anyone who has any knowledge of anyone that was hiking there, bouldering there or climbing there … to please contact the Squamish RCMP.”
“It’s the belief of the technician that the new cracks in the face of the mountain are a result of the rock falling,” said Wendell. He added that it is not known when the area will be safe for climbing again. “It could be weeks until it’s safe to get appropriate trained people up there to make an assessment.”
Stawamus Chief Mountain, or as it is locally known, The Chief, is a granite dome very near the town of Squamish, British Columbia. Its towering presence over the waters of Howe Sound is well known to hikers and climbers. At 700 meters (2,297 ft), it is considered the second largest granite monolith in the world.
