Another happy ending for area SAR teams as Nelson couple found safe and sound
By Castlegar Source
Police are reporting yet another happy ending in a Search and Rescue situation this week, according to Nelson Cpl. Machael Stefani.
“On Feb. 26 at 10:48 a.m., Nelson RCMP received a call of two overdue snowboarders from Whitewater ski hill,” he said. “The pair were a 30-year-old male and 40-year-old male, both from Nelson.”
Stefani said the men were described as good snowboarders, but not frequent ‘out-of-bounders’. Neither person was carrying survival gear, shovels, or beacons all of which are necessary gear for skiing the back country.
“Nelson Cpl. Stefani attended the ski hill and located the subjects’ vehicle in the lower parking lot. An inquiry was made with Whitewater staff on site and they were advised of the two missing men,” Stefani said.
“Const. Lowing from Nelson detachment called the Provincial Emergency Program (PEP), who in turn dispatched Nelson Search and Rescue (SAR),” he continued. “At first light, Nelson SAR attended Whitewater and commenced a search by helicopter but visibility was poor.
“Const. Long located a couple on the hill who had seen the missing men the previous day and were able to point SAR in the direction of Prospector.
“Fresh tracks were located and the missing boarders were eventually found at around 3 p.m. and taken to the ski hill lodge. A doctor on site checked the pair over and they were found to be in good condition, but suffering minor forms of frost bite,” Stefani concluded.
“This latest rescue comes only one day after a father and son went missing and were recovered from the ski hill.”
