Bear den near Banff forces closure of ice climb route
Affects all access routes to Trophy Wall ice climb on Mount Rundle
A bear den in Banff has prompted the closure of an ice climb route on Mount Rundle, Parks Canada announced Saturday.
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It impacts the Trophy Wall ice climb route off of Mount Rundle and all the approach routes to get there, including the Terminator, the Replicant, Troubled Dreams, Postcriptum and Sea of Vapours.
The bear's den is reportedly at the top of the approach routes.
Anyone found climbing in the closed are may be charged and fined a maximum penalty of $25,000 under the Canada National Parks Act.
Last year two British climbers narrowly escaped a grizzly bear attack while climbing another mountain in Banff National Park in December. Wildlife specialists said that attack was likely because the bear had been trying to den.
There's no specified end date for the closure.