Two Osoyoos snowmobilers had to be rescued after spending a cold night on Mt. Baldy on April 5.
Osoyoos RCMP requested the assistance of Oliver/Osoyoos Search and Rescue after receiving reports that two snowmobilers had become stuck on Mt. Baldy and failed to return to their base.
The snowmobilers, a 47-year-old man and 39-year-old man called a friend to advise they were sledding in the Mt. Baldy area when one of their sleds had become stuck. They advised they would be hiking approximately one kilometre to their other sled before making their way out.
“By 9 p.m. they had still not returned to their vehicle and further contact with both could not be established,” said Sgt. Jason Bayda.
A SAR team attended but due to low light and fog were unable to conduct much of a search during the night. But at approximately 9 a.m. this morning (April 6) the team, with the assistance of Eclipse Helicopters from Penticton and a snow avalanche expert from the Ministry of Transportation, located both men.
“They were healthy yet a bit cold. The two had lit a fire to keep themselves somewhat warm throughout the night,” Bayda said.
The Osoyoos RCMP thanks all those involved for their great work in the search, Bayda stated. “Their coordinated efforts made for a quick rescue of these men”.
Search and rescue crews in B.C. are discouraging people from journeying into the wilderness during the COVID-19 pandemic due to concerns for members’ health and safety.
