Home »
CVSAR relieved rescue went well
Monday evening, March 14, Columbia Valley Search and Rescue (CVSAR) was requested to assist the RCMP with searching for two missing snowmobilers from Alberta.
The two men had planned a weekend at the Olive Hut (pictured), adjacent to the Catamount Glacier but failed to return home when they were expected. A helicopter response was initiated immediately due to fading daylight and the amount of time that had passed since they were last seen.
Weather did not allow the helicopter to reach the hut but team members were able to speak with other sledders in the area who had been in contact with the missing men. The men had supplies and had been told to stay put if weather conditions worsened and affected visibility. Their vehicle was still parked in the staging area and they reported being low on fuel to the other party in the area.
At first light, today (March 15) two avalanche technicians and a search dog returned to the area via helicopter at first light to assess the avalanche conditions and do a visual sweep of the area. Weather again limited access to the glacier and hut so snowmobiles were sent up to try and reach the hut. They found the men in good condition and led them out back to the staging area.
Travel in the mountains in the winter should not be taken lightly. We are happy that everything worked out but things could have been different. Every person in avalanche terrain must have the appropriate safety gear: transceiver, probe, and shovel and be knowledgeable of the areas they are travelling in.
Glaciers also present hazards such as crevasses and whiteouts that hinder visibility and cause trouble navigating. CVSAR recommends taking an avalanche safety course and preparing for the area you are travelling in. Check the avalanche condition bulletin and weather prior to departing.
CVSAR would like to thank Columbia Valley RCMP, Big Horn Helicopters, and the Windermere Valley Snowmobile Club for their assistance.
Columbia Valley Search and Rescue is one of 80 SAR teams in the province of British Columbia and its coverage area extends from the Alberta border on the east to the height of land in the Purcell Mountains west of the Columbia Valley, north to Spillimacheen, and south to Canal Flats. Search and Rescue is carried out by volunteers and those in need of help are not charged for searches or rescues.
Columbia Valley Search and Rescue
