The search for two missing hikers entered its third day after a devastating rockfall in Banff National Park’s popular Sentinel Pass area. Parks Canada rescue teams, aided by RCMP and volunteer mountain rescue personnel, continue to comb through the debris field despite challenging weather conditions and unstable terrain.
According to Janet Morrison, Incident Commander with Parks Canada, the rockfall occurred Tuesday afternoon when a section of Mount Temple’s east face collapsed without warning. “We estimate approximately 3,000 cubic meters of rock came down,” Morrison explained during yesterday’s press briefing. “This is roughly equivalent to 300 dump trucks of material.”
The missing hikers, identified as Michael Chen, 34, and Eliza Kowalski, 29, both from Calgary, were last seen by other hikers approximately 30 minutes before the rockfall. Their vehicle remains in the Moraine Lake parking area, and their planned route included an overnight stay at the Neil Colgan Hut.
I’ve covered many wilderness incidents during my years reporting in Calgary, but the scale of this rockfall is particularly troubling. The Sentinel Pass trail sees thousands of hikers each summer, many drawn to its spectacular alpine scenery and accessible terrain. What makes this incident especially concerning is that it occurred during what should be optimal hiking conditions.
Meteorologist Devon Williams with Environment Canada noted that the region experienced unusually high temperatures followed by heavy rainfall in the days preceding the incident. “These conditions can potentially destabilize rock faces, particularly in areas with existing geological weaknesses,” Williams said.
Parks Canada has temporarily closed several popular trails in the vicinity, including the Plain of Six Glaciers, Larch Valley, and Paradise Valley routes. Officials are conducting additional assessments to determine if other areas might be at risk.
Susan Chang, a geological engineer with the University of Calgary who studies mountain stability, told me that climate change is increasingly affecting our mountain landscapes. “We’re seeing more frequent freeze-thaw cycles and intense precipitation events that can accelerate weathering processes,” Chang explained. “These rockfalls have always occurred, but their frequency and unpredictability appear to be increasing.”
For the tight-knit Calgary hiking community, this incident has been particularly devastating. The Alpine Club of Canada‘s Calgary section has postponed several planned excursions out of respect for the missing hikers and their families.
“Michael and Eliza are experienced backcountry users who’ve completed multiple advanced training courses,” said Darren Farley, president of the Alpine Club’s Calgary section. “They were well-prepared for their journey with appropriate equipment and had filed detailed trip plans.”
Search efforts have been complicated by the extensive debris field and continued rockfall risk. Rescue teams are using ground-penetrating radar and specialized avalanche probes to search beneath the rubble. Two search dogs from Canmore’s rescue team have also been deployed.
“We remain hopeful,” Morrison stated, “but we must acknowledge the challenging nature of this search operation.”
Family members of both missing hikers have arrived in Banff and are receiving support from Parks Canada’s visitor safety team and RCMP victim services. A temporary support center has been established at the Banff Park Lodge for family members and close friends.
The rockfall comes during one of Banff’s busiest tourist seasons, with visitor numbers approaching pre-pandemic levels according to recent Parks Canada statistics. Park officials emphasize that while this incident is serious, visitors should maintain perspective about overall safety in the park.
“Millions of people visit Banff annually, and serious incidents remain extremely rare,” noted Chief Superintendent Sylvia Jenkerson. “We encourage visitors to check trail conditions, respect closures, and ensure they have appropriate skills and equipment for their planned activities.”
For those of us who regularly enjoy Alberta’s mountain landscapes, this incident serves as a sobering reminder of nature’s unpredictable power. Having hiked Sentinel Pass myself just last month, I can attest to both its beauty and the visible evidence of geological activity in the area.
As the search continues, the broader mountain safety community has rallied around the effort. Alpine helicopters has donated flight time, and specialized search teams from Jasper and Kootenay have joined the operation.
Parks Canada promises daily updates as the search continues. Anyone with information about the missing hikers’ movements on Tuesday is encouraged to contact Parks Canada’s Banff dispatch office.
