Climbers find undetonated explosive in Jasper National Park

A group of climbers is being praised by RCMP after they found and didn't meddle with anunexploded ordnance Thursday in Jasper National Park.

An unexploded ordnance, or UXO, is an unexploded weapon, like a bomb orgrenade.

"We can't say for sure what it was used for, but it is believed that it was used back in the day for avalanche control," RCMP spokesperson Cpl. Jon Cormiertold CBC News Saturday.It dates back to the Second World War, according to the RCMP.

Climbers from theAssociation of Canadian Mountain Guides found the device above the snow line on the north side of Mount Athabasca, about 105 kilometres southeast from the Jasper town site. They photographed the device before leaving it undisturbed.

The discovery was reported to Jasper RCMParound 2 p.m., and a public notice to avoid the area was sent out, RCMP said in a news release Saturday.

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The RCMP explosives disposalunit workedwith the Department of National Defence to find a way to deal with the explosive.

The next day, the explosive ordnance disposal teamfrom the Wainwright Canadian Forces Base in Denwood, Alta., 200 km east of Edmonton, joinedmembers from Jasper Park Visitor Safety, who helped navigatethe hazardous terrain on Mount Athabasca.

The disposal team blew up the devicein place,Jasper RCMP said in the news release.

"The [climbers] who located, photographed, reported and ultimately did not interfere with the UXO are commended for the action they took."

RCMP warned people should never touch an object that resembles somethingthat could detonate.

"This potentially dangerous situation was handled effectively because of the proper action being taken at the outset," RCMP said.