Happy ending to search for overdue Quebec snowshoers
By Nelson Daily Editor
By Timothy Schafer, The Nelson Daily
Two Quebec snowshoers have been found after spending a cold night lost in the backcountry above Whitewater Ski Hill Sunday.
The two people — a male and a female approximately 25 years old — were located safe and sound by Nelson Search and Rescue Monday afternoon, said Cpl. Dan Moskaluk of the RCMP.
“Both are in relatively good condition and were being transported down the mountain,” he said. “At this time we are unable to say exactly where they were located. Both will be offered medical attention upon return to Nelson.”
The address listed for the male was from the Dolbeau-Mistass area, said Cpl. Moskaluk, while the female shows an address in the St Gerrard-Majella area of Quebec.
Two people did not arrive back at their car at the bottom of Whitewater after they were seen snowshoeing in the area of Beatty Mountain Sunday afternoon.
RCMP had contacted the Nelson Search and Rescue team around 6:30 p.m. after the two people still did not arrive, said Cpl. Moskaluk.
He said an avid local backcountry came across the two people on snowshoes above and outside the resort’s controlled area late in the afternoon Sunday.
“The local skier chatted with the pair, wanting to confirm all was well and was advised that they would be making their way back to the parking lot to their vehicle,” he said.
Cpl. Moskaluk said the skier had offered instructions that they needed to only follow his tracks back down the mountain to make it back to the parking lot.
The resort received the information on the two people from the local when he descended, as to whom he had come across. When the hill closed it was noted that the vehicle was still in the lot — the Nelson RCMP was notified at around 6:30 p.m., as well as Nelson SAR.
SAR technicians were out searching Sunday night until 3:30 a.m. Monday morning when weather patterns changed. Search efforts continued Monday to no avail but they did find fresh snowshoe tracks.
RCMP officers went to the hill and had a look at the vehicle which displayed Quebec licence plates, said Cpl. Moskaluk.
“It appeared to be packed and the vehicle looked lived in,” he said at the time. “We have yet to confirm whether it was the registered owner himself that we are looking for or other persons.”
The Nelson RCMP, along with a total of four area search and rescue teams, resumed the search Monday morning.
SAR Teams from Nelson, Fruitvale, Rossland and Kaslo had concentrated on searching the Upper Five Mile Drainage, with the assistance of an aerial helicopter search prior to them setting out, said Cpl. Moskaluk.
editor@thenelsondaily.com
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