Two Castlegar residents are “fortunate” to have been found Saturday night in frigid temperatures, according to the RCMP.
The men, ages 40 and 48 were snowmobiling off Mackie Creek Road, 15 kilometres west of Castlegar, when one ran out of gas.
“It was decided the other male would make his way back to his truck and get fuel but ended up getting lost in the process,” Cpl. Deb Postnikoff said.
Nearly six hours later, at 9:30 p.m., the male found his way back to his truck where the RCMP found him.
By joining Castlegar Search and Rescue, he was able to locate his friend on the mountain just after 2 a.m.
Both men were unharmed but quite cold in the -13 C weather, Postnikoff said, and search efforts were winding down for the evening when the first man was found.
“RCMP would like to take this opportunity and remind snowmobilers to ensure they are well prepared with emergency supplies, adequate fuel and food and water when venturing into the mountains,” Postnikoff said. “Always tell someone your exact starting point and provide an expected return time. A GPS and fully charged cell phone are always recommended.”
“Not all cases have such a successful, happy ending,” she added.