Golden Search and Rescue tracked down two missing skiers from Victoria who left the controlled recreational area surrounding Kicking Horse Mountain Resort.A friend of the men notified the RCMP. of their absence at 9:30 p.m. Jan. 30.
After resort staff conducted a search of the recreational area on skis, Golden Search and Rescue started scanning the surrounding area by helicopter, starting early the next morning.
Rescuers spotted the first man, waving his arms, at 8:37 a.m. six kilometres outside the recreational area boundary.
“He was in the trees and they couldn’t land the helicopter anywhere near him,” saidRCMP Sgt. Troy Durand. Using a long line, a rescuer was lowered down and hoisted back up with the man in tow.
At about 10 a.m., rescuers spotted the second man in the same area.
“They were lost,” said Durand. “They’re injuries are exposure related.”
They are being treated for non-life threatening injuries at the Golden and District Hospital.
Durand confirmed the skiers did something wrong by leaving the controlled area, but added, “there are no rules around it ... You can’t stop people from going on Crown Land.
“They were skiing at a resort for a day, and were ill-prepared to spend any time in the back country,” he said.
“There are no charges for it. Unfortunately, it cost money to send search and rescue out for people who decided to ski out of bounds.”
rholmen@vicnews.com