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Chief trail closed due to rockslide

Hikers just missed by falling rock
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The Stawamus Chief is closed to hikers and other users following a rockfall on a popular trail.

A significant amount of rock fell collapsed onto the hiking trail near the bottom of the path which leads to the first, second and third peaks of the Stawamus Chief in Squamish.

The rockslide happened Monday evening, with an estimated 20 tonnes of rock falling onto the trail, prompting BC Parks to close the popular route in the provincial park.

According to a note posted to the BC Parks web page for Stawamus Chief Provincial Park, contractors are in the process of removing loose rock above the trail but that work should be completed soon.

"All trails at the base of the cliffs in Stawamus Chief are subject to rockfall," the notice warns.

It was a close call for hikers on the back trail up the Stawamus Chief with one witness telling Pique that a hiking group just missed being caught in the 6 p.m. rockfall as they were descending.

The group had just passed through the area seconds before the slide took place.

BC Parks said on Tuesday that they expect the trail to reopen for this weekend, once the rock has been cleared and a geotechnical expert has given the go-ahead. It's unknown if any rock stabilization or scaling is required to make the area safe for hikers.

In addition to the rockfall, BC Parks advises that the overhang corners above the Flats on the Grand Wall are closed to climbers because falcons have been spotted nesting on the Grand Wall route.