PRELIMINARY: On Tuesday February 2, three climbers were reported missing after they had not returned from a route on Bear Mountain, in Chugach State Park east of Chugiak. On the morning of February 3rd, Alaska State Troopers and the Alaska Mountain Rescue Group launched a ground search of the area. During the search what appeared to be a recent avalanche was discovered. In the avalanche slide area, the bodies of the three were discovered buried in the snow. The group did not have PLB’s or avalanche beacons. The Alaska Mountain Rescue Group assisted with recovering the hikers from the slide area.